RAMPANT casualisation of labour, sexual abuse and the emergence of artificial intelligence are worrying factors in the mining sector amid concerns of massive exploitation of labour and resources.
This was revealed by the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Workers Union (ZDAWU) secretary-general Justice Chinhema at the second elective national congress held in Bulawayo on Friday last week.
Chinhema said a majority of workers were facing income and employment insecurity.
“Majority of mine workers in Zimbabwe are working on short-term fixed contracts and employers increasingly prefer this kind of employing. This has resulted in high levels of workers deciding not to join any trade union for fear of losing their jobs,” Chinhema said.
“Another monster existing in our sector is the rise of labour broking or employment arrangements, where workers are employed by a sub-contracted company. In some cases the company will be owned by the management of the principal mine.”
Chinhema added that sometimes people work without knowing who their employers are.
“Sadly, in the event of occupational injuries and illnesses, these workers are left to suffer on their own with no employer taking responsibility for them,” he said.
“This practice is beginning to emerge in the lithium mines where individuals are being given contracts by the main mine to do general work, managing labour with no supervision and monitoring by labour inspectors. These disguised employers are denying workers their rights and subject them to several forms of abuses which go unreported.
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“It is, therefore, against this backdrop that we believe that we need to push for amendment of the mining industry CBA as provided for in section 12[3a] of the Labour Act [Chapter 28.01] in the shortest period of time to cap signing of contracts in the industry.”
According to research done by the United Kingdom’s Oxford University, an estimated 47% of current job forms are at risk of being automated in 20 years and in sub-Saharan Africa, estimates show that between 40 and 60% of jobs could be affected by artificial intelligence (AI) in most countries including Zimbabwe.
“While these technological tools can enhance safety, optimise operations and improve resource exploration, they also pose workforce displacement risks, particularly for jobs involving manual labour and routine tasks,” Chinhema said.
“Automation and AI-driven machinery could potentially reduce the demand for human miners in certain roles, leading to the need for reskilling and job transition programmes to ensure that affected workers can adapt to new, more technology-oriented roles.”
The congress was graced by various delegates drawn from several African countries such as, Egypt, South Africa and Namibia.
Meanwhile, the congress ushered in a new leadership with Gracious Sibanda from Hwange Colliery Company landing the presidency after defeating Livingston Huni of Murowa Diamonds.
Lesley Ngwenya of Blanket Mine in Gwanda was elected the deputy president.
Knowledge Ncube of Blanket Mine became the first trustee having contested with Gibson Munduru of Bikita Minerals and Cosmas Muchumi of Trojan Mine.
Augustine Manyadze of Bikita Minerals in Masvingo was elected second trustee unopposed.
