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Chinese Lithium Miner Accused Of Unfair Labour Practices

1 year agoSat, 02 Mar 2024 10:23:15 GMT
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Chinese Lithium Miner Accused Of Unfair Labour Practices

Security guards employed at Richmark, a company contracted by Arcadia Lithium Mine in Goromonzi, accuse the company’s director of security, Wang, a Chinese national, of racism, intimidating and firing guards on spurious charges.

The workers also alleged that they are fed substandard food and that their ablution facilities are inhumane and degrading.

Last week, a photo of the toilets used by workers at the mine went viral on social media platforms.

The photo showed water flowing on the floor and a lack of privacy for workers when relieving themselves.

Some of the security guards who spoke to Pindula News on condition of anonymity raised several allegations against the company in general and Wang in particular.

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They said, for instance, Wang routinely inspects night duty guards in the morning and those with bloodshot eyes will be accused of sleeping on guard duty.

Six guards were recently given warning letters before they were fired.

The security guards also accuse Wang of forcing them to buy cellphones. Wang allegedly travels to China to source phones at cheap prices and then forces guards to buy them at exorbitant prices.

Wang is also accused of forcing security guards to find livestock such as goats for him to slaughter for food.

This is said to be a condition to have their contracts renewed and those who refuse to do as demanded are dismissed. Said the source:

Somewhere around August 2023, Wang and another Chinese guy named Yang ordered about 30 refurbished VIVO cellphones from China and then wrote a list of the names of security guards.

They then gave each one of us a cellphone and asked us to pay US$200, yet they paid only US$40 for each phone in China, and they were delivered via express cargo.

If you refuse to buy the phone, they threaten not to renew your three-month contract.

We are also forced to work during holidays and if we complain, we are threatened with dismissal.

We have a shortage of work suits, and we don’t have torches, yet we work in the bush at night. We work in a dusty environment but we have not been provided with personal protective equipment (PPE).

The toilets that we use are in poor condition and we are forced to eat substandard food.

Wang is reported to be in China on vacation. Before his departure to the Far East on 23 February, he reportedly gave warning letters to several security guards for having bloodshot eyes.

Responding to questions sent via email by Pindula News, an official at Richmark admitted that they had indeed received some complaints from the workers about the poor quality of the food. Said the official:

In terms of quality of food, a few complaints had been lodged by some employees a few weeks ago.

To address the issue, the management engaged the caterer and insisted they improve their standards.

The worker’s committee and SHE department were also assigned the duty of making regular checkups on the quality of food that is being supplied, and to report any substandard food to the HR department.

The official said staff quarters have clean toilets with running water comprising 20 toilet seats, each with a partition and personnel that are employed as cleaners specifically for that area.

Another Richmark employee who spoke to this publication said the partitions in the toilet blocks were only installed a few days ago in response to the viral picture.

The company’s management said they were not aware that Wang was forcing employees to buy cellphones. It said:

We are carrying out investigations but formally no complaint has been lodged with the management over this issue.

This is the first time that issue has come to the management’s attention.

The official also disputed claims by employees that they do not have adequate PPE. He said:

As per company policy, every employee is given a new worksuit/ safety shoes every 6 months.

If an employee’s PPE is damaged before the 6 months are due, they approach the SHE department with a replacement request.

An assessment is then carried out to ascertain whether the damage/ loss of PPE is through normal wear and tear due to the nature of the work or whether it is through negligence.

The outcome will result in the employee being either given a new set of PPE or made to pay a fee for replacing the damaged PPE.

There are records for PPE distribution that are kept in the SHE department and each employee is obligated to sign as an acknowledgement of receiving the PPE when their period is due.

Meanwhile, the workers said they walk on eggshells every time Wang is around and wonder “why he is always angry”.

They said their sincere hope is that he will be transferred to the Democratic Republic of Congo when he returns to Zimbabwe at the end of his 40-day vacation.

More: Pindula News

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49 Comments

Louise Retzlaff · 1 year ago
We as the caterers take the utmost care to ensure hygiene in food preparation and storage is our top priority. The quality of the food is of the highest standard we can provide within the budgetary constraints. All complaints are taken are very seriously and addressed at all levels of management.
Anonymous · 1 year ago
I want to state firstly that my company has a contract at that mine and thats not the toilet my guys use. The toilets are covered kune machamber n kune mashowers by a curtain. On food the canteen its on one day pavakapika beans and starting of January kwakaunzwa another catering team ikubika food and all the caterers cook sadza, rice n sometimes macaroni served with chicken stew/roast beef or pork. The issue i have is yes at the security gate hapana a toilet. The guys have to walk about 500metres to a toilet. On the issue of firings handizivi hangu im contracted far from security. One other thing Wang is not the security guy n his actually back in Zim after his leave. I have been working with the Chinese since 2015 and those guys they are the worst in terms of hygiene and working ethics but at PLZ i was shocked with the manner they do their business. Yes they are some overzealous guys who are crazy but its an improvement from my past experiences. Guys please report news dzechokwadi. My contract im actually paid by the gvt of Zim and i have nothing to benefit by siding with the chinese but i just had to give my two sense. They even built another toilet which opened mid feb n i even used it when i was there. On the issue of cellphones handizivi hangu but the guards avangopenge kuzvitaura it needs to be looked into.
Dhunamtuna · 1 year ago
But guys tell me: Pamunoitwa zvese izvi nema Chinese, imwi munenge muchingoti Yebo nkosi? One mu Chaina achiita all the rubbish to many local workers,makangotarisa so? Chimbosiyanai neumbwende vamana. Itai seni zvangu. Ini kakauya ne VIVO ye $40 kakati ndipe $200, ndikati unogwara,ndokubva ndakapa $50 zvikatovharana. Musajaidza makudo neanokamhina. Liberate yourselves,kwete kutya tuvanhu utwu.
zenzo · 1 year ago
ngavasiye ma China vazvishandire tione kuti vangazvigona here , after all vasunwa varikutopika majere avo muno vakuda kuzviita maningi ndava
Zvenyika · 1 year ago
same as kwaDeputy minister of finance the only difference kwaDeputy minister pay inouya pavadira apa iri muzvidimbu zviviri 180Us divided by two.mudhara ariko mutema akasviba zvese nemoyo ukabvunza salary anokudzinga kungofa unyerere sehwayi
Justice · 1 year ago
The buck stops with Zanu Pf. The Chinese can not raise a finger on a Zimbabwean without the authority of your first secretary. That's the man you put at the top to protect every black man on this land. Now he has made slaves of us all and handed us over to the Chinese. Compare this with America. Foreign governments ill treat American citizens at their own risk. Even when their citizen has committed a crime in your land, they will make you surrender him/her. Why is ED so quiet about it?
Pastor · 1 year ago
Vhurai maziso maZimba. Satanism has no love and mercy in its syllabus. Everyone is stock in trade. You're valuable to satanists when they eat your flesh and drink your blood. Their joy comes from your sorrow. When they are in power, they make sure that every policy makes you cry.
Brian Kadzu · 1 year ago
mukaenda pa tiktok yakanzi @BrutusMokgotho mumo video riripo reZimba aka pfurwa 25 shots zvinonzwisa tsitsi
@Vhedza · 1 year ago
Asi munoenda pamwe chete here kuboiler kwacho? This shows it's temporarily installed. Kana zvakanyanya kurega basa racho wonorima mbambaira nenzungu kumusha pane kubatwa rough. Asi kudiaspora varikumbobatwawo sei vanhu vari kushan****?
Kg · 1 year ago
From the pic above, a normal human being cannot relieve himself in such a horrible setup. privacy is paramount in situations like that . how can they parade people like that. it so degrading honestly. I think the ministry of healthy must inspect all these compounds, one by one to ensure proper human standards are adhered to. the labour ministry like wise.
shellaz · 1 year ago
kuno kukelvin panelink yesimbi ine mablair toilet and no water aZara zvino but ivo vane avo e management
ed · 1 year ago
ed pfeee nehanda matirasa makafira mahara
Dubs · 1 year ago
If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
· 1 year ago
@dubs stick to the name Mamelodiii.
gumlaz · 1 year ago
guys takatotengeswa kare na Ed ndopowonzwa kuchinz munhu we bato rinopiksana nezanu mutengesi ko hezvoka nhai havasungwe machina iwayo skt takatotengeswa kare guys
skun · 1 year ago
this is no suprise ...ende these zhingaz always pay their way out..🚮
Never Magura · 1 year ago
1945, August 17, George Orwell ( pseudonym, Eric Arthur Blair), chapter 1 in Animal farm, London, Secker and Warburg, OCLC 3655473. Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it, our lives are miserable, laborious and short, We are born, we are just given so much food as will keep the breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength, and the very instant that our usefulness has came to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty, No animal in England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old, No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery, that is the plain truth. The above statement is, a logical atomism, the funder mental fact that cannot be further broken down.
eraison · 1 year ago
Chero mabritish aingodaro
Never Magura · 1 year ago
1945: August 17, George Orwell (pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair); Chapter 1 in Animal farm. London; Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473. Now, comrades, what is the nature of this life of ours? Let us face it, our lives are miserable, laborious and short. We are born, we are given so much food as will keep our breath in our bodies, and those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength, and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty. No animal England knows the meaning of happiness or leisure after he is a year old. No animal in England is free. The life of an animal is misery and slavery, that is the plain truth. The above statement is , a logical atomism, the funder mental fact that cannot be further broken down.
thanks · 1 year ago
great quote,I remember old benjy.
chelsae · 1 year ago
Chelsea 2. Brentford 2
Mboro🍆💦 · 1 year ago
Chelsea yatamba sei
BLACKBOI_ZW · 1 year ago
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #PL FT Brentford 2-2 Chelsea Goals: Jackson 35', Roerslev 50', Wissa 69', Disasi 83' Everton 1-3 West Ham Goals: Beto 56', Zouma 62', Souček 90+1', Álvarez 90+5' Fulham 3-0 Brighton Goals: Wilson 21', Muniz 32', Adama Traoré 90+' Newcastle 3-0 Wolves Goals: Isak 14', Gordon 33', Livramento 90+2' Nottingham Forest 0-1 Liverpool Goal: Núñez 90+9' Tottenham 3-1 Crystal Palace Goals: Eze 59', Werner 77', Romero 80', Heung-min Son 88'
Chibaba · 1 year ago
ummmmmmm Liverpool yapona ne lucky 9 minutes added time dzakawandisa. Anyway thanks for the EPL results.
Mboro🍆💦 · 1 year ago
Chelsea yatamba sei
Tearful · 1 year ago
😂 Workers are never wrong always management 😂
. · 1 year ago
This Chinese colony of Zimbabwe will never get respite.Every company they operate is exempted from normal laws of the colony.
intellectual · 1 year ago
Chinese companies maone,. they don't comply with Zim laws they wat they want simply because those who brought them vakati itai zvamoda whilst abusing employees ivo vachipihwa Mari vari kumusoro
ankn · 1 year ago
when the Chinese Embassy was built some years back, rumours circulated how badly they treated local Labour, ie forced to defecate in buckets, no PPE
Champion · 1 year ago
Do we have ministers of Mines and of Labour in Zimbabwe? Do they have a boss? Poor Zimbabweans. Your ministers and their bosses are shareholders wherever the Chinese operate. They allow the Chinese to do as they like with you as a sign that these Chinese are well protected. Just make sure that you publish these cases so that the people's government will revisit them after independence. The people's government will also pursue those in ministerial positions during these very inhuman events.
Mamelodiiii · 1 year ago
Why keep on complaining. If you can't stand the conditions just march
· 1 year ago
They are employed because the jobs are there. You want them to give up because someone wants to enslave them in Zimbabwe?
Mamelodiiii · 1 year ago
Well if they wanna be employed ngavatambe irikurira
Bornfree · 1 year ago
Musanetseka naMamelodi. Haazivi zvinoitika muZimbabwe. Ndeweku Mamelodi kuSouth Africa.
june · 1 year ago
Africans remain slave's notated what
june · 1 year ago
Africans remain slave's notated what
Mamelodiiii · 1 year ago
The aggrieved must just quit
June · 1 year ago
ukaonekwa unegold rawachera unosugwa saka todii
linox · 1 year ago
munyika Mani, kwete kwete, ndokupa 24 hrs iwe muChina Zimbabwe is not a doggy Country stop it fourth with
Mamelodi · 1 year ago
Siyai mabasa kana musingadi. Why are yoi complaining instead of resigning? Budai musatiitire noise
. · 1 year ago
it's porverty and desperation vangu. if they had other choices they would leave
. · 1 year ago
it's poverty and desperation vangu.if they had other choices they would leave.
Robert jr · 1 year ago
Bob ndivo vakakuunzirai machina(look east policy) saka shingai. ndo Zim yacho
ZIMBOLOGY · 1 year ago
makadii vazukuru vaMutapa

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