By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA –
SANDVIK Mining and Construction company employees have been awarded a K540 salary increment across the board, taking the income for the least paid worker to K4,159.12
The increment follows the successful signing of a 12-month collective agreement between Sandvik management and the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) on Monday.
NUMAW president James Chansa led the union leadership in signing the collective agreement while the Sandvik team was headed by company director for service and administration, George Munthali
Mr Munthali said after the signing ceremony held at St Andrews Kim Retreat Centre in Parklands that Sandvik management was happy with the outcome of the negotiations, and described the salary increment as fairly equitable to both parties of the collective bargaining unit.
Mr Chansa thanked Sandvik management for what he termed a ‘meaningful’ salary increment to its employees.
He said in addition to the K540 payrise, the union also managed to bargain for an increment of K200 to the existing housing allowance and K500 funeral grant for parents.
“We want to urge all mines and investors to consider giving meaningful increments to workers so as to motivate them because when you talk of productivity without motivation, nothing can be achieved,” Mr Chansa said.
The union leader was hopeful that Sandvik was going to implement what had been agreed in the collective agreement.