“You'll Be Fired if You Refuse” - Human Rights Watch

Godwin Beene, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines and a board member of ZCCM-IH,
which retains a minority interest in each of the country’s mining operations, also expressed
the view that the real problem with PPE was workers trying to cheat their companies:
The law says they automatically get new PPE if broken or worn out. But the
problem isn’t the Chinese. It’s the miners. You see, they’ll ask for new PPE
in order to give the overalls, the boots, to their father or brother…. The
regulations are clear. Ear plugs must be provided and worn. PPE must be
provided. But they trade the new one to get money or to give it to family,
and then they come in with someone’s worn old equipment and ask for a
new one. It’s a problem. A good supervisor can tell if the person is lying. 148
While some miners may try to cheat the company, miners at both NFCA and Sino Metals
said their attempts to have PPE replaced were rejected out-of-hand, not after a procedure
to determine whether they were being truthful. Moreover, as described in the “Best
Practices” textbox, below, workers from mines run by other multinational corporations
described relative ease in exchanging torn or damaged PPE—in stark contrast to the
system described by workers in the Chinese-owned mines.
“How Can We Pick One Child?”:
Family Medical Care at Sino-Zam Friendship Hospital
As is standard across the copper mining industry in Zambia, the Chinese-owned companies
have provided a hospital for miners. For the three companies based in Chambishi, miners
have access to Sino-Zam Friendship Hospital in Kitwe. Although most workers with whom
Human Rights Watch spoke expressed frustration at the distance to the hospital, several
praised the hospital’s staffing and equipment—saying it was much better than going to a
government hospital, in particular in its supply of medicines. China Luanshya Mine also
provides a hospital in Luanshya.
While offering an important benefit to their employees, the Chinese companies appear to
provide the least among their multinational competitors. At Konkola Copper Mines and
Mopani Copper Mines, for example, a spouse and all minor children are covered. While
there have been gradual improvements, several Chinese companies limit the number of
148 Human Rights Watch interview with Godwin Beene, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals
Development, Lusaka, July 18, 2011.
49 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | NOVEMBER 2011