News / National
Chinese employer accused of ill-treating mine workers in Zimbabwe
11 Feb 2017 at 09:07hrs | Views
Mr Ibu (left), mine workers (right)
Mine workers at Sheila's Luck mine in Mutorashanga Mashonaland West province on Saturday put down their tools after the Chinese paid a deaf ear to the workers grievances.
Bulawayo24.com visited the company which falls under ZIMASCO and spoke to the mine workers who said the Chinese are oppressing them.
"The Chinese are so ruthless we do not have protective clothing; we get minimum wages of $7 per day which we were forced to sign or risk being fired and our shelter is so pathetic we live in cabins where we are so crowded to the extend that we do not enjoy our privacy with our wives.
"Yesterday our manager Mr Ibu disconnected our electricity saying we are using high voltage of electricity a move we all regard as very unfair hence we are engaging legal aids to help us overcome," lamented the source.
However the assistant manager only identified as Mr Ibu said the management is working on the workers' grievances but due to the company's bureaucracy it will take time to full fill all their grievances.
"We know all their grievances but as you know we are a big company under ZIMASCO it takes time to cater for their needs, as for wages ( no work no money) because we are hear for business," he said.
He dismissed cutting electricity for the miners saying it was a fault being fixed by their electrician but they will be monitored on their use of electricity.
Legal Aid Network Society director Collins Kasiya castigated all forms of ill-treatment by the Chinese and called for workers to seek legal action.
"The Chinese are always like that but we call upon those being abused to seek legal action to curb such trends.
As for the trade unions we urge them not to accept bribes as that hinders the smooth flow of the law," said Kasiya.
Bulawayo24.com visited the company which falls under ZIMASCO and spoke to the mine workers who said the Chinese are oppressing them.
"The Chinese are so ruthless we do not have protective clothing; we get minimum wages of $7 per day which we were forced to sign or risk being fired and our shelter is so pathetic we live in cabins where we are so crowded to the extend that we do not enjoy our privacy with our wives.
"Yesterday our manager Mr Ibu disconnected our electricity saying we are using high voltage of electricity a move we all regard as very unfair hence we are engaging legal aids to help us overcome," lamented the source.
However the assistant manager only identified as Mr Ibu said the management is working on the workers' grievances but due to the company's bureaucracy it will take time to full fill all their grievances.
"We know all their grievances but as you know we are a big company under ZIMASCO it takes time to cater for their needs, as for wages ( no work no money) because we are hear for business," he said.
Legal Aid Network Society director Collins Kasiya castigated all forms of ill-treatment by the Chinese and called for workers to seek legal action.
"The Chinese are always like that but we call upon those being abused to seek legal action to curb such trends.
As for the trade unions we urge them not to accept bribes as that hinders the smooth flow of the law," said Kasiya.
Source - Simbarashe Sithole
