By KAIKO NAMUSA –
FIRST Quantum Minerals (FQM) has awarded its workers new conditions of service for the period ending 2016, starting with a 10 per cent salary hike for this year.
For 2015, the salary increment would be pegged at eight per cent, while in 2016 a seven per cent increment was agreed.
FQM country manager Kingsley Chinkuli said the mining giant was committed to maintaining a motivated workforce to help increase productivity for the benefit of the country.
FQM signed the agreement with the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and National Union of Miners and Allied Workers representatives in Lusaka yesterday.
“Management of FQM welcomes the newly-signed collective agreement and we commend both negotiating teams for understanding each other in the process of negotiations.
“Management notes that the labour union plays an important role to ensure that workers’ concerns are addressed and as management we also want to ensure the workers are productive and properly emunerated,” General Chinkuli said.
He said it was important for the mine to remain focused on increasing production levels. NUMAW president James Chansa said despite the negotiations being characterised by challenges, it was gratifying to note parties involved had finalised the engagement and signed the new agreement.
Mr Chansa called on FQM employees to accept the new package unveiled to them, adding that the union would continue to work with management to ensure conditions of service were further improved in the years to come.
MUZ president counterpart Nkole Chishimba was happy that the negotiations were successfully handled.