ZDAMWU Accuses Diamond Companies of Labour Abuses and Mismanagement

By Leeroy Willie

A legal battle is looming between the country’s leading by diamond producers and their labour force amid allegations of widespread illicit trade, unfair labour practices and a significant decline in production of the precious minerals.

The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union (ZDAMWU) has castigated the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC, Anjin Investments and Murowa Diamonds for deliberately pushing the industry to the brink of collapse.

ZDAMWU Secretary General Mr Justice Chinhema implored a quick intervention from relevant government departments to address the matter amongst these parties.

“The diamond sector is in turmoil, crippled by a triple threat of plummeting productivity, rampant illicit trade and a devastating labour crisis that’s pushing the industry to the brink of collapse.

“Our members, hardworking mine workers in the Diamond Sector, are suffering amid a wave of layoffs, unpaid wages, and deteriorating labour standards and working conditions at the country’s three diamond mining companies,” said Mr Chinhema.

He said the union has since brought the matter before the Labour Ministry to address the matter.

“We have since engaged our parent Ministry of Labour to kindly intervene and assist these people.

“The miners are not being sincere, you can imagine a worker going under voluntary or involuntary retrenchment and spend over six months without getting his or her benefits.

“Engagements are currently underway, but we urge these companies to be transparent and stick to our country’s labour laws.

“The mining industry (diamond sector) cannot crumble that way,” said Mr Chinhema.

He said the three companies should comply with the labour regulations.

“ZCDC, the leading state-owned diamond company, is currently laying off up to 600 workers.

“So far, 295 workers have been retrenched through a voluntary process, but they have not received their packages. “Management has initiated a mandatory retrenchment process despite our objections.

The extent of this downsizing raises serious concerns about transparency, fair labor practices, and the socio-economic impact on affected families.

As a union, we condemn any forced or unfair retrenchment processes that violate workers’ rights and dignity,” said Mr Chinhema.

He said at the Chinese-owned diamond firm, Anjin workers have gone for months without getting salaries.

“Recently, workers at Anjin Investments gathered at the management offices, demanding the payment of four months’ unpaid salaries and urgent answers regarding fair Labour practices.

“Their protest underscores the dire financial distress faced by employees, who have been denied their rightful wages despite the company’s you production.

“This blatant neglect of workers’ rights is unacceptable and demands immediate intervention.

Mr Chinhema said,” Currently, at Murowa Diamonds, workers have initiated a sit-in protesting five months of unpaid salaries.

“This desperate act highlights the severe hardship faced by workers who have been deprived of their due compensation, further deepening the crisis in the sector.

Recently, workers at Anjin Investments gathered at the management offices, demanding the payment of four months’ unpaid salaries and urgent answers regarding fair Labour practices,” he said.

The Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union urges the government to make sure workers’ rights and fair labour practices or standards are restored in all three operations.

“Ensure all outstanding wages owed to workers are paid now, including halting the purported retrenchment of workers by ZCDC to prevent hardship and unrest within the sector.

“The three operations should engage in honest dialogue and transparent restructuring processes that respect workers’ dignity and livelihoods.

Our Diamond Sector implements sustainable sector reforms that balance economic growth with social responsibility, prioritizing value addition and beneficiation to protect jobs and create new jobs,” he said.