By ROGERS KALERO
MINERS’ expectations for an increment this year are very high following the change of government and the increase in food and other services, coupled with the recent price increase, Mine workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) President Joseph Chewe has said
Mr Chewe said MUZ was hoping that reasonable increments will be awarded to the miners because the cost of living was currently high for the majority of its members who were working hard to keep the wheels of the mining sector running.
He was speaking at the weekend when he delivered his speech at the MUZ Supreme council meeting which was held at Moba Hotel in Kitwe.
Mr Chewe said 2021 saw relative increments of wages in mining companies ranging from 6.5 per cent to 15 per cent and also the removal of subsidies on fuel in December which saw the increase in the price of Petrol from K17.62 to K21. 16 per litre and Diesel from K15.59 to K20.15 per litre.
Mr Chewe said the basic needs and nutrition basket (BNNB) estimated by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) remained above K8,000 in 2021 against the highest basic salary of a direct unionised employee of about K7700 and the lowest of K3600 and even lower for contract workers.
“We still have a mammoth task to strive and attain reasonable salaries for the year 2022. Miners’ expectations for increments this year are very high following the change of government and the increase in food and other services, coupled with the recent price increase.
“MUZ hopes that reasonable increments will be awarded to miners because the cost of living is currently high for the majority of its members. The increase in fuel prices will further compound the high cost of living for many workers in 2022,” MrChewe said.
Mr Chewe said MUZ was also concerned about the decrease of direct jobs in the mining industry from 2019 to 2021 at a time when the government, the mine workers union and other stakeholders were stressing on the need for direct jobs.
He said MUZ recently undertook a survey on the number of direct jobs in the mining industry in the past three years which revealed that direct jobs have decreased by 40 per cent from 2019 to 2021.
