By NATION REPORTER
GRIZZLY Mining Limited has awarded over 500 unionised employees a salary increase and improved conditions of service for the period 2021-2023.
The lowest paid unionised employees would now be getting a monthly salary of K4,000 from K3,500 up to next year and K4,500 thereafter.
Grizzly Vice-Chairman, Abdoul Ba, said in Kitwe yesterday that the emerald mining firm was committed to improving salaries and conditions of service, even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic which has negatively affected operations.
The salary increment was reached after negotiations with the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union of Mining and Allied Workers (NUMAW).
Mr Ba said it was not easy for management to engage in salary negotiations with the unions because of the prevailing difficult economic conditions, worsened by the ravaging Covid-19.
“I would like to congratulate the management team and the two unions for concluding negotiations for the period 2021 to 2023 in record time ever. I am confident that the collective agreement we are signing today will reflect and galvanise our evergreen relationship.
“However, let me point out that it was not easy for management to negotiate for improved conditions of service because if the prevailing economic situation brought about because of the Covid-19. But being a company, which has the human feeling at heart, we went further to negotiate because we greatly value you our employees,” he said.
He also said the Lufwanyama-based firm was happy that Government had created an enabling environment for the mining sector to thrive.
“Management would have loved to do more in terms of improving employees’ conditions of service but as you are aware, the Covid-19 has ravaged most economies of the world and we as Grizzly Mining are not spared.
