SAVE JOBS, MINERS DEMAND – GOVERNMENT FOCUS MUST BE MAINTAINING JOBS
By KETRA KALUNGA
GOVERNMENT must focus on saving jobs in the mines even as it strives to find a solution to woes that are the sector, the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) has said.
NUMAW treasurer, Soul Simunjika said whether the government decided to run the mines or bring in an equity partner, the focus should be on saving jobs.
Mr. Simunjika said in an interview, that maintaining jobs should be a priority because the country cannot afford to add to the already high number of unemployed miners given the country’s depressed economy.
He said whatever measures the government puts in place regarding the smooth running of the mines, no jobs should be lost because the high number of unemployed miners would be catastrophic for the country.
“As unions, our main interest is that those mines must continue to run and that jobs must be maintained primarily for the wellbeing of the economy. The government should ensure that those already in employment are maintained,” Mr. Simunjika said.
He said whatever decision the new dawn government makes, it should be in line with its campaign promises to ensure that jobs were maintained and at the same time created not only in the mining but also in other sectors.
He said the union felt that if the government was not in a position to run the mines, an equity partner with a sound mining record could be engaged.
Mr. Simunjika said an equity partner willing to invest and maintain jobs was welcome to take over the running of the mines.
