The Gemstone Allied Workers Union has implored government to formalize the Small Scale Mining Industry.
Union Secretary General Sifuniso Nyumbu said the informal status of the Small Scale Mining Industry poses a negative impact on economic development.
Mr Nyumbu said currently players in the industry evade tax thus robbing government of revenues.
He also said due to the lack of a formal approach to Small Scale Mining, the benefit among players has remained insignificant as most of them lack skills and machinery.