corporate governance, page-11

MANAGEMENT at Albidon?s Munali Nickel Mine in Mazabuka has with immediate effect awarded its unionised workers a 12 per cent salary increment, backdated to January 1, 2011.

Albidon has also increased funeral grant for employees by 100 percent while that of dependants has been increased by 300 per cent. Previously, employees were paid K 2 million but this amount has now been adjusted to K4 million.

Dependants previously received K1 million but will now receive K4 million while spouses will also receive K4 million as funeral grant.

Other allowances increased include housing allowance which will be paid at 30 per cent of basic pay while underground allowance will be paid to junior officers at 10 percent monthly basic salary.

Repatriation fees of K5 million will be paid to workers staying within a radius of 70 to 200 kilometres while those that stay beyond 200 kilometres will be entitled to a K7 million repatriation fee.

Full Sunday bonus will not be paid to an employee who works on a Sunday which falls within his or her six day week but such an employee will only qualify for a seventh day payment.

Shift differential will be entitled to an employee at 0.9 percent monthly basic salary for each full shift worked.

This came to light during the signing of the collective bargaining agreement between mine management and the national leadership of the Mine workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) held at the mine yesterday. The branch was represented by its vice chairperson, Chama Chibwe.

Mine assistant general manager Anthony Weber signed on behalf of management while MUZ deputy general treasurer Joseph Chewe and director of research, Charles Muchimba, signed on behalf of the union.

And Weber said Albidon mine remains committed to addressing the plight of the workers.

He also advised unionised staff to desist from engaging in illegal strikes, adding that they risked being disciplined or having their allowances forfeited.
Weber said the improvement of salaries and other conditions of services took long because of misunderstanding between the branch official of MUZ and management.

And Chewe commended Albidon mine management for taking bold steps in improving conditions of service for its workers.
Chewe said MUZ will continue supporting management in order to foster industrial harmony.