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Zambian construction workers celebrate victory after wildcat strike

ZAMBIAN construction workers celebrated victory as they won a pay rise after a four-day strike in a cement plant in Masaiti.

More than 500 workers walked out last month at the Dangote Industries Zambia Limited cement plant in a row over better wages and working conditions.

The stoppage came after talks between the Silondwa Engineering and the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) broke down after workers rejected a 15 per cent pay rise.

Their action forced bosses to offer an improved deal including a minimum monthly wage increase of 1,000 kwacha  (£41) and union recognition.

The union said that it was continuing to fight the scourge of outsourcing along with anti-union measures including no-strike clauses contained in contracts between Dangote and the subcontractor.

MUZ president Joseph Chewe said: “There is a need for the government to quickly address the issue of outsourcing, especially in the cement producing companies and to ensure that workers are employed directly by the principal companies.”

He said that outsourcing is detrimental to workers’ welfare as it creates precarious working conditions such as temporary contracts and low wages.

“We call upon Dangote to provide decent working conditions by creating permanent jobs in Zambia,” he said.

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