Miners demand job security

By SILUMESI MALUMOGLENCORE International should not arm-twist Government because many miners will be subjected to abject poverty through mass job losses, the National Union for Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) has warned.And the union urged Government to stand firm and ensure that Glencore, the majority shareholder in Mopani Copper Mines, does not place the Kitwe and Mufulira assets on care and maintenance after 90 days.NUMAW president, James Chansa, said Glencore came to invest in the country and should pass the benefit to Zambians and not to torment locals.Mr Chansa said Glencore had made profit and should guarantee job security.He said Government must stand firm and ensure that jobs in the mining sector were protected, as job security was key to high productivity.This follows continued efforts by Government to engage Mopani Copper Mines to ensure that contracts which were terminated were restored.Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development Permanent Secretary, Banarby Mulenga, said Government would be engaging the mining firm for 90 days to come up with an amicable decision.But Mr Chansa said there was need for Government and Mopani to make decisions that would guarantee job security.“The reason we demonstrated was because we want jobs at Mopani to be secured. Everyone who has lost a job is a big injury to all of us,” he said.