“You'll Be Fired if You Refuse†- Human Rights Watch
“You'll Be Fired if You Refuse†- Human Rights Watch
“You'll Be Fired if You Refuse†- Human Rights Watch
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
NOVEMBER 2011 ISBN: 1-56432-824-4<br />
“<strong>You</strong>’ll <strong>Be</strong> <strong>Fired</strong> <strong>if</strong> <strong>You</strong> Refuse”<br />
Labor Abuses in Zambia’s Chinese State-owned Copper Mines<br />
Map of Zambia .................................................................................................................... i<br />
Summary ............................................................................................................................ 1<br />
Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 7<br />
To the Government of Zambia ................................................................................................... 7<br />
To the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development, including the Mines Safety Department ...... 7<br />
To the Ministry of Labor and Social Security ............................................................................. 8<br />
To the Chinese Government ..................................................................................................... 8<br />
To China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation ..................................................................... 8<br />
To the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of China’s<br />
State Council ........................................................................................................................... 9<br />
Methodology .................................................................................................................... 10<br />
I. Background .................................................................................................................... 13<br />
A Body of Work on Business and <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Rights</strong> .................................................................... 14<br />
China in Africa ........................................................................................................................ 14<br />
History of Zambia’s Copper Industry ....................................................................................... 17<br />
Copper Mining Operations in Zambia ................................................................................ 18<br />
Zambian Government as Minority Owner .................................................................................20<br />
Chinese Investment in Zambia, Copper Industry ......................................................................20<br />
Labor Problems and Low Wages in the Chinese Mines ....................................................... 22<br />
Exporting Abuses?: Similar Labor Problems in China’s Mining Industry ............................. 25<br />
Politicization of Chinese Investment, 2011 Election .................................................................26<br />
“Good Investors, but Bad Employers”: Dichotomy between Welcomed Chinese<br />
Investment and Abusive Labor Practices ................................................................................. 30<br />
II. Health and Safety ......................................................................................................... 32<br />
Health and Safety Hazards ...................................................................................................... 33<br />
Failure to Provide Potable Water ....................................................................................... 38<br />
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ...................................................................................... 39<br />
Casual Workers at Sino Metals: No PPE, Labor Law Loopholes ........................................... 45<br />
“How Can We Pick One Child?”: Family Medical Care at Sino-Zam Friendship Hospital ............ 49