FQM AND MINE UNIONS SIGN COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT FOR 2024
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By Derrick Sinjela and Simon Banda – Zambian Children Young People and Women in Development (ZCYPWD)
First Quantum Minerals Ltd subsidiaries Kansanshi Mining and FQM Trident have signed a collective bargaining agreement with six unions that sees eligible employees receive an 8 percent increase in basic salary from January 1, 2024.
The agreement was signed with the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ), Miners and Allied Workers Union (MAWU), United Mine Workers Union of Zambia (UMUZ), Consolidated Miners and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CMAUZ), and Miners Technicians, Artisans and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (MTAAWZ).
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Kansanshi Mining General Manager Anthony Mukutuma reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to fostering favourable working conditions for its employees.
Mr. Mukutuma was pleased they were able to achieve a reasonable and satisfactory outcome with the negotiations.
Mukutuma expressed optimism that the company’s investment in the S3 Expansion project was on track after a challenging year and that this will help boost production at its Kansanshi Mine.
“All the work is on track. The plan is that once we get into 2025, Kansanshi’s production will reach 250,000 tonnes of copper; the mine will return to operating at much higher level of production. Our mine is unique in that Kansanshi has a mine life of well over 20 years remaining; there are not very many mines in Zambia or around the world that can claim this to be true. And the deposit is not even closed out yet. So, we need to make sure that we look after this asset,” Mukutuma said.
Speaking at the same event, FQM Trident Assistant General Manager Frederic Wouters said the company encouraged an open-door policy for the continuous improvement of conditions of services for its workforce, which in turn helped drive higher productivity.
“Overall, we recognise and reward the outstanding performance of our staff as the contribution that each employee brings towards production is important. We believe that when our staff remains productive, we can be sure of the success of our short, medium, and long-term strategic initiatives, whose results will flow onward to the overall business, to the National Treasury, to our communities, as well as to the employees themselves.
We appreciate the unions’ continuous and positive commitment, efficiency, and objectivity during the collective bargaining process, which has led to a successful conclusion of this important undertaking,” said Wouters.
And NUMAW president Saul Simujika assured the management of the two mines that the workers would dedicate themselves to maximising productivity and proactively contribute to reducing operational and production costs.
FQM Trident Human Resource Manager Brighton Mwiinga said the mining firm remained committed to ensuring that it stays competitive in the labour market in a sustainable manner.
“The increment on the salaries and education allowance agreed upon by the parties will go a long way in cushioning the impact of economic pressures being felt by our staff of more than 4, 200 employees, the majority of whom are represented by the unions and covered in this deal,” Mwiinga added.
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