| Zambia: Abuses in Chinese-Owned Mines |
| Chinese-Owned Firms Flout Zambia's Labor Laws, Safety Regulations |
| “Sometimes when you find yourself in a dangerous position, they tell you to go ahead with the work,” said a Zambian miner for Non-Ferrous China Africa. “They just consider production, not safety. And if you report the problem, you’ll lose your job.” Chinese-run copper mining firms in Zambia – subsidiaries of a Chinese state-owned company – routinely flout labor laws and safety regulations and engage in union busting, a new report says. Copper mining is the lifeblood of the Zambian economy, contributing nearly 75 percent of the country’s exports. Miners describe poor ventilation that can lead to lung diseases, the failure to replace damaged protective equipment, and threats to fire people who refuse to work in unsafe places underground. Workers in several Chinese-run copper mines labor for up to 78 hours a week in brutal conditions, while other multinational copper mines follow Zambia’s 48-hour work week. In October, miners from most of the Chinese firms went on strike, demanding improved conditions. Non-Ferrous China Africa fired at least 1,000 strikers, only reinstating them under pressure from Zambia’s newly elected government. Workers are thankful for their jobs and China’s investment in Zambia. But labor laws shouldn’t be treated as irritating barriers to production |
-- kenneth w. harrow distinguished professor of english michigan state university department of english east lansing, mi 48824-1036 ph. 517 803 8839 harrow@msu.edu
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