By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
Unionised employees will receive a 10 percent increase in basic salary for 2022 and another 10 percent for 2023 across the board under a collective agreement signed between Kagem Mining and unions.
The company also announced that those sitting between the grade notches would move up to the next notch.
The collective agreement was approved by the Labour Commissioner in Lusaka.
The agreement followed negotiations between management and representatives of the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union of Miners & Allied Workers (NUMAW), in which it was also agreed to enhance the company pension contribution from 20% to 25 percent of basic pay.
This brought the effective salary increase to 15 percent for 2022 and 2023, and the overall increase to 22.5 percent over the next two years.
Kagem General Manager Sanjeev Kumar commended union representatives for the efficient and professional manner in which negotiations were conducted.
“Having achieved harmonious industrial relations through this collective bargaining agreement, I am sure that Kagem, its workers and the government will all benefit, “ he said.
And MUZ President Joseph Chewe commended Kagem for its commitment in improving the welfare of its employees.
Mr Chewe encouraged the workers to continue working along with the company to succeed as they continued to give those jobs and business to the community of Zambia.
“As a union we will continue to be positive towards the operations because if operations fail, there will be no employment. So, my colleagues from the workers, let’s continue to engage the company on issues the workers raise so that we can have a company that is profitable, that is able to look after the workers’ welfare,” he said.
Kagem is owned 75 percent by London-based Gemfields in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which holds 25 percent on behalf of the Zambian Government.
