Diamond workers left in a limbo after government moved to take over mines, are threatening to descend on Mine’s Minister Walter Chidakwa’s offices.
The labourers say government did not fully consult them failing to put measures in place to protect and safeguard their welfare.
With the order to stop operations in the Diamond Industry, over 2000 workers were made jobless and sent to the streets with no hope or assurance to be engaged by the new company.
The workers’ union speaking on behalf of Diamond Industry workers wishes to state its position as it comes from the workers who have lost their jobs through the shutting down of mining activities in Chiyadzwa and Chimanimani by government, a statement read.
It continued, “first we wish to state that workers are and have been a 100% supportive of the Amalgamation of companies. This they believe will bring relief in their working conditions and salary discrepancies. It should be known that the diamond mining companies were paying their employees different scales of salaries and wages with some paying as little as US$200 per month. This on its own affects the moral of the employees and with the consolidation workers believe it will bring changes in:
a) Salary and Wages- Employees in the industry will be paid same salaries for the same grade.
b) Good working conditions across the board
c) Job security i.e. they believe the new company will engage them on permanent basis using the geological survey d) Transparency in the Diamond Mining activities will prevail e) development of the community
However all this is just a hope which we believe could have been addressed before making employees jobless.
“The government through the Minister of Mines did not fully consult all the Stakeholders especially the workers. They did not put measures in place to protect and safe guard employee’s issues. With the order to stop operations in the Diamond Industry, 2000 workers were made jobless and sent to the streets with no hope or assurance to be engaged by the new company.
“Once again it should be known that from 2009 almost 10 000 jobs were created from the discovery of Diamonds in Chiyadzwa and Chimanimani and almost 8 000 have lost their jobs due to unlawful terminations and nature of contract. Most of the terminated employees before and now are still owed salaries and terminal benefits.
“Government has not said any word in regard to how the employees will claim or going to be paid their benefits. The union is aware of the legal route of perusing these outstanding payments but it should be known that some of these companies for instance Mbada had long closed offices running away from its employees they had terminated. It will be difficult for workers to trace them and get paid. This poses a question on how workers will get paid, we believe if government had consulted the workers bodies this would have been avoided.
With the above the Unions’ position is: “Unity Strength and Success.” “