MINING COMPANIES URGED TO HIRE FORMER MINERS

Mozambique’s Ministry of Labour is urging coal mining companies operating in the central province of Tete to hire Mozambican miners who have lost their jobs in neighbouring South Africa.The Minister of Labour, Helena Taipo, pointed out during a visit to Tete last week that mining companies operating in the Moatize coal basin will require a skilled labour force when they begin large-scale production next year.“We are working with the coal mining companies to find a framework for hiring Mozambican workers with extensive experience in the mines of South Africa”, said the Minister.It is estimated that just over 40,000 Mozambicans work in South African mines. Many miners become unemployed at the end of their contracts.Taipo headed a delegation from the Ministry of Labour that visited a number of companies based in Tete city and in the mining district of Moatize.Discussions took place on the need to establish a healthy working environment in order to avoid labour disputes. This issue was raised in response to a strike by 1,500 workers from “Mozambique Leaf Tobacco” in Tete city on 9 to 11 July. Workers were demanding better salaries, transportation and other benefits.The minister advised foreign investors to strictly adhere to international labour standards, particularly concerning social responsibility programmes.The minister welcomed the large number of new jobs created in the province, which totalled more than 14,000 in the first six months of the year.Taipo stated that this figure is very encouraging, especially since most of the mining projects are still in the early stages of their implementation.The minister expressed her satisfaction that 8,000 of the province's new jobs went to Tete residents, while 4,000 went to Mozambicans from other provinces, and the rest was brought in from abroad.
The government is encouraging technical and professional training schools to improve the skills of the Mozambican labour force. It is requiring that mining companies fund training centres to improve the skills of the country’s workforce, which in turn will reduce unemployment.