Staff writer
According to a research done by National Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe ( NMWUZ), Chinese employers are the main culprits in not abiding to the country’s safety laws while violating labour laws willy nilly.
This was revealed by NMWUZ , president, Kurebwa Javangwe Nhomboka in an interview with The Blast.
“Precarious working conditions and safety concerns were also major issues. Many workers were exposed to dangerous conditions due to employers(Chinese being the biggest culprit)failure to provide proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE),” said Nhomboka.
“Foreign investors disregard for labour laws was another challenge as some investors deliberately violated Zimbabwe’s labour laws, exploiting workers for their own interests especially the Chinese companies,” he added.
Nhomboka said due to casualisation of labour, more than 1000 mine workers lost their jobs in 2024.
” Casualization of labour and job Insecurity were prevalent, particularly in the lithium mining companies,gold and platinum, chrome mining companies , where over 1,000 workers lost their jobs due to short-term contracts,” he said.
Nhomboka said the union will this year work towards ensuring that the workers’ rights are protected while their voices are heard.
“These challenges highlight the need for improved working conditions, fair wages, and stricter enforcement of labour laws to protect the rights of mining workers in Zimbabwe.
“In addressing safety concerns of employees, we will continue to highlight the importance of safety standards and access to personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent injuries and fatalities in the mining industry,”he said.