By NCHIMUNYA MIYOBA
The Mine Union Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) says it is concerned with the decrease of direct jobs in the mining sector in the past 3-years as it undermines the job creation agenda
MUZ President Joseph Chewe speaking during a supreme council meeting held at Moba Hotel yesterday said a study conducted by the Union indicates a 40 percent decrease in direct jobs from 2019 to 2021stating that it was a source of concern especially towards the efforts in creating decent jobs for the local people.
Mr Chewe said the decrease in employment levels by the mining companies undermines Governments and the union agenda for job creation.
He said that there was need to revisit the strategy of job creation in the mines for the benefit of the youths and the young people graduating from universities and colleges.
” The Mine Union Workers of Zambia recently undertook a is survey on a number of direct jobs in the mining industry in the past 3-years which reviews that direct jobs have decreased by 40%. This is a source of concern especially towards the efforts in creating the decent jobs for the locals the country,” he said.
And Mr Chewe said outsourcing of labour by most mining companies is a way for investors to avoid the responsibility of creating jobs adding that the business model of outsourcing labour will continue to promote unstable employment and social security.
“The increase of outsourcing of labour by mining companies has become a serious cancer that urgently needs to be uprooted to achieve the country’s decent work agenda. We urge government including members of Parliament to move a motion in parliament and address this issue,” he said.
