Zimbabwe Diamond & Allied Minerals Workers Union Summons NEC Mining Industry Over Cost Of Living Adjustment
By Desire Tshuma
Zimbabwe Diamond & Allied Minerals Workers Union have written a letter to the General Secretary for the National Employment Council for the mining industry in request for the urgent meeting of NEC parties for the purpose of considering a Cost Of Living Adjustment (COLA).
The request of meeting with the National Employment Council for mining industry is to cushion mine workers against the devastating effects of the Zimbabwe currency’s devaluation and the massive price hikes of the basic commodities across the country affecting US$ component of their salaries. Mine workers are demanding USD200.00 across the board as cost of living adjustment (COLA) to compensate for currency devaluation.
“As a trade union with the mandate to speak, advocate and lobby for better working conditions, interest and rights of mine workers, we are agreeing with our members’ on the need to have cost of living adjustment,” said Mr Justice Chinhema (pictured) General Secretary – Zimbabwe Diamond & Allied Minerals Workers Union.
“In agreeing with our members’ on the need to have cost of living adjustment, we want to protect mine workers’ standard of living and purchasing power of their earnings, maintain morale and motivation among workers and prevent potential labour disputes, grievances and ensure stable operations ‘ added Mr Chinhema.
The recent economic developments have resulted in currency devaluation, the Zimbabwe Gold currency has lost significant value against the US dollar. Price hikes, basic commodities, goods and services have increased exponentially and reduced purchasing power whereby mine workers feel their salaries have been eroded.
“It is common cause that the recent exchange rate adjustment by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ( RBZ) has negatively affected the current salaries that were obtained a month ago. You must also be reminded that mine workers have already been earning below Poverty Datum Line and as such they are worse off than before” . To mitigate these challenges we propose, quarterly reviews to adjust salaries according to situation prevailing at any given time and a 90% USD salaries to ensure salaries are preserved and not eroded by currency fluctuations,” concluded Mr Justice Chinhema. Mine workers are demanding USD 600.00 salaries from current USD 360.
