New Maamba mine owners to layoff workers - Mentioned in the Lusaka Times

Maamba Collieries (MCL) Coal Mine new owners, NAVA BHARAT venture will layoff all employees and pay them their terminal benefits.

The Company's Executive Officer Kalunga Mumba told workers in a memo that MCL Board of Directors has decided to send all the miners on voluntary separation exercise with effect from August 31 to November 30, 2010.

Mr Mumba said the company would undertake a voluntary separation exercise as a strategy to reorganize their business and give employees a chance to get their terminal benefits. The workers have also been told to reapply for their positions.
He said the Company would support them to address any negative impact that the exercise may have on their future livelihood.
Mr Mumba informed the workers that voluntary separation procedures and application forms would be circulated to all employees in two weeks time.
However, the move is contrary to the MCL’s former Executive Officer Dipesh Dipu who informed the miners on 3rd May that no one would lose employment except the ones who will fail to fit in the new system.


Mr Dipu said that: “Maamba is going to change; we have to work hard to ensure that we are part of the history and benefit from the wealth we are going to create.”

“We need to look beyond the horizon and see the lives of people of our country being lit up by coal we produce and power we generate,” Mr Dipu said.

NAVA BHARAT venture is owns about 65 shares in Maamba Collieries (MCL) Coal Mine while government has 35 percent.