Africa-Press – Botswana. Concerns, including significant wage disparities between local employees and expatriates, racial discrimination, and a lack of adherence to statutory requirements have been raised about Khoemacau Copper Mining (KCM) and its subcontractor, Barminco Mining Services.
These allegations are contained in a petition by Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) presented to Ministers Lefoko Moagi (Minerals) and Anna Mokgethi (Labour & Home Affairs).
One of the key issues raised by BMWU is the influx of expatriates working at KCM and its affiliated companies. These expatriates were brought into Botswana as part of the human resources pool associated with the investing companies. For example,the Union says, Barminco Mining Services, a subcontractor for KCM, has over 120 expatriates on site.
The Union expresses concern about the wage disparities between local and expatriate employees, despite locals performing similar or even more substantial responsibilities. It says expatriates are often paid in US dollars, which poses challenges for the BMWU when negotiating better wages for local workers.
The Union says KCM has justified these disparities as a measure to protect expatriates against exchange rate fluctuations.
BMWU alleges that foreign nationals have been appointed to senior positions that carry legal responsibilities without meeting the legal requirements. This includes cases where appointees lacked the necessary academic qualifications and certification of competence from the Engineers Registration Board (ERB).
KCM management however says the Mine only brings in internationals for positions where all efforts to identify suitable citizens for those positions have not been successful. The company says this has been necessary largely only in respect of their new underground mine which they say deploys high levels of mechanisation and a mining method not undertaken in Botswana to date.
“In other departments very few internationals are engaged. Internationals come from competitive wage markets, and therefore their remuneration needs to align to those markets. We bring to Botswana highly skilled and competent mechanised equipment Operators and trainers, with years of underground mechanised mining experience. They are here not only to enhance productivity but also to impart the necessary skills required by Batswana to operate in our new modern underground mechanised mine safely and productively.” The company says they have a skills transfer policy and that capacity building is high on their agenda.
The BMWU petition also alleges that KCM’s operations are riddled with systemic racism and preferential treatment of white expatriates at the expense of black employees. Specific instances cited in the Department of Labour KCM Inspection Report include unequal drug testing, differences in accommodation standards, assaults against black employees by white workers, and varying pay structures for expatriates and local workers.
KCM denies this accusation. “There is absolutely no place nor is there tolerance for racism or discrimination of any form in our business and this well documented in our Code of Conduct. All members of the team are bound to this Code of Conduct, which we take with the utmost seriousness, as we strive to ensure a fair, transparent and safe working environment for all, free from any prejudice. We disagree with the assertion that there have been numerous incidents of racism.”
BMWU has put forward a series of demands aimed at “rectifying” the issues raised in the petition. The demands include withdrawal of permits. “BMWU calls for the government to withdraw all permits for expatriate machine operators and individuals in positions where the country has a surplus of qualified candidates. The union also advocates for a public service policy to unite married spouses, those with children, and individuals in long-term partnerships in the mining sector.
“BMWU requests that the Department of Mines, under the Office of the Chief Mining Engineer and the Commissioner of Labour, ensure strict enforcement of the mining localization policy. We propose the establishment of a tripartite permit vetting committee under the Department of Mines to regulate and grant mining work permits.”
BMWU wants review of KCM’s Program of Mine and Community Development Obligations.
“BMWU seeks a review of KCM’s program of mine and community development obligations to ensure compliance and implementation. The union requests that implementation reports of the program of mine be shared with the union, promoting transparency and accountability. BMWU calls for equal remuneration for equal work across all multinational companies, emphasizing the importance of fair treatment for all. The union underlines the need for equal treatment for all employees, asserting that preferential treatment violates the constitution and has no place in industrial relations.”
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