LUSAKA, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Zambian Vice-President Inonge Wina on Friday that a law that allows mining firms to outsource labor should be amended in order to protect the country's workforce.
Konkola Copper Mines (KCM), one of the country's biggest copper mines, is currently embroiled in a labor dispute with Zambia's two main mining unions over its plans to outsource labor at some of its units, which has affected over 900 of them.
The mining firm, a unit of London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc, said the move was aimed at improving efficiency, reduce costs and boost output.
The Zambian vice-president said the mining firm has not abrogated any laws in outsourcing some of its workers as it was provided for in the law.
She said in parliament that the law on outsourcing as well as other laws inherited from colonial masters were archaic and needed to be amended in order to protect the interest of the workers.
According to her, the law allows a company that wants to outsource to negotiate with the unions and that if there was no agreement, a dispute has to be declared and allow for the government to intervene.
She said in the case of KCM, the mining firm has declared a dispute and that the government was currently engaged in talks with the two parties.
