By Cecilia Chiluba/Zambia/Lusaka
Zambia’s Ministry of Labour and Social Security has charged a Chinese-owned mining firm operating in North-Western province K130, 000, equivalent to over US$6, 000 for violating the country’s labour laws.
The charges imposed on Sino Kaiyuan Mining Company Limited, stem from the company’s failure to register 63 expatriate employees contrary to Section 62 of the Employment Code Act, Cap 268 of the laws of Zambia, non-provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers, and lack of essential employment policies required under the country’s labour regulatory framework.
Sino Kaiyuan Mining Company Limited was fined K40, 000 for not registering the 63 expats with the office of the Labour Commissioner, K40, 000 for breaching occupational health and safety standards by not providing protective equipment to its workers as well as K50,000 for lack of employment policies.
The firm was directed to procure a bus to facilitate safe transportation for workers, improve the quality of meals provided to employees, and sanitation standards.
Sino Kaiyuan was charged on Tuesday, during a joint inspection conducted by Northwestern Province, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kaunda Mwale, Zambia Institute of Human Resource, Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board and National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA), in the presence of Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Tambatamba who is also Kasempa Constituency Member of Parliament.
Ms. Tambatamba, emphasized that foreign companies operating in Zambia must uphold workers’ rights and adhere to the country’s labour laws and International labour standards, adding that workers must be prioritized before profits as they are the firm’s most valuable asset.
“Corporate Social Responsibility must start with the fair and humane treatment of workers. Before a company speaks of community projects, it must first ensure that the people who drive its productivity are treated with dignity, protected at work, and provided with decent conditions,” she stated.
She further underscored the importance of allowing workers to be affiliated to unions and engage in collective bargaining for better conditions.
“Trade Unions must be given an opportunity to negotiate for better conditions of service with management, as constructive engagement between workers and employers is key to stable and productive workplaces,” Ms. Tambatamba emphasized.
Ms. Tambatamba also highlighted the critical role played by Human Resource practitioners in ensuring labour law compliance.
“Human Resource functions are the front-line of labour law enforcement within organizations. By implementing, interpreting, and policing employment regulations, Human Resource acts as a balance between employee advocacy and organizational compliance. This helps mitigate legal risk, ensure fair practices, and prevent workplace disputes,” she explained.
Ms. Tambatamba urged employers across all sectors to fully comply with labour laws including the care of duty by ensuring workers’ safety, proper documentation of employment policies, and adherence to guidelines governing expatriate employment.
