KAZSHAM mine underpaying workers
Controversy linked Norton Mine, KAZSHAM is reportedly underpaying its workers with the lowest-paid getting RTGS equivalent to US$50 (RTGS5000) falling short of National Employment Council (NEC) minimum wage of RTGS$22 000.
Rudairo Mapuranga
The mineworkers who spoke to Mining Zimbabwe also complained that despite the company underpaying them, it also delays in payment going for three months without any remuneration.
“They want us to be here for over 8 hours a day working flat out but when it comes to payment, they avoid us or even harass us for asking for payment,” one of the workers said.
When approached by Mining Zimbabwe for a comment, one of the Managing Directors of the mine Tanaka Shamu son to one of the directors of the mine William Shamu said he was not aware that his company was underpaying workers.
Tanaka Shamu also said that he was not aware that his workers have not been paid their salaries for three months.
When asked by Mining Zimbabwe on who to direct inquiries to since he seemed not to have answers, Tanaka maintained he was the best person to talk to.
Recently mine workers under Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) rejected a 22 percent wage hike awarded to them by employers arguing this was a pittance considering the country’s poverty datum line now averaging $40 000.
According to ZDAMWU General Secretary Justice Chinhema, the 22,2 percent translating to RTGS$22 000 minimum wage agreed by the NEC was nothing short of an insult to the suffering mine workers and needed to be reviewed to at least RTGS 40 000.
KAZSHAM was temporarily shut down by authorities in February this year after allegations of human rights abuse at the mine and lack of basic requirements like toilets. The mine has since resumed operations but is yet to build a single toilet for the artisanal miners who number up to 200. There were allegations that over 99 percent of them are working without PPE.