Employees at Murowa Diamonds mine bemoan the terrible working conditions!

Zvishavane- The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Mineral Workers Union (ZDAMWU) and the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) have united to voice their grave concerns regarding the ongoing labour and wage conflicts at Murowa Diamonds in Zvishavane.

The corporation has neglected to put the wellbeing of the mine workers first, resulting in non-payment of salaries and a number of other issues despite their maximum production.

The workers presented a long list of complaints, including unfair pay scales, unapproved duty roasters, short-term fixed contracts, insufficient pension funds, and non-payment of salaries.

These difficulties have put mine workers in terrible situations that make their lives intolerable.

Both lobby groups wrote the following in a joint statement:

“The lack of an efficient work council denies employees a forum to express their grievances and engage in negotiations for better working conditions.

Workers have additional difficulties in getting to the mine site on a regular basis due to the broken transit system and inadequate facilities.

“A lack of equitable pay is highlighted by the workers’ incomes, which are disproportionately low when contrasted to the revenues made from the minerals being mined.

“The creation of a specific pension fund for the diamond industry is necessary, as the workers’ reliance on the MIPF pension fund has proven ineffective.”

It says, moreover:

Murowa Diamonds must act immediately because “the overall quality of life for workers and their dependents is severely compromised.”

Murowa Diamonds was encouraged by CNRG and ZDAMWU to put employee welfare first and act quickly to resolve labour disputes, salary disputes, and unfavourable working circumstances.

In order to maintain the highest standards of sustainable development in the global diamond industry as a member of the Natural Diamond Council, Murowa Diamonds must make sure that workers receive fair compensation and have a safe working environment.

“The concerns of communities and diamond mine workers are increasingly being heard at the next Kimberley Process Plenary meeting in Victoria Falls, which is known to CNRG and ZDAMWU.

Both CNRG and ZDAMWU will continue to push for standard working conditions, open collective bargaining procedures, the creation of works councils, and general improvements to the operational environment for a fair and conducive working environment for diamond mine workers. Trade unions and civil society organisations are essential in ensuring the welfare of mineworkers.

Attention must be given right now to the predicament of Murowa Diamonds mining workers. Murowa Diamonds bears the obligation of ensuring that workers’ rights are respected, salaries are paid on time, and working conditions are enhanced, in collaboration with pertinent parties.

Until the workers obtain their just compensation and have a safe and respectable workplace, CNRG and ZDAMWU will continue to advocate for them, they stated in their letter.