Zambia’s Kalumbila Mine introduces Covid passports for workers

Kalumbila Mine in North Western Province has introduced a Covid passport for its workers to access company facilities in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases country wide due to the Omicron variant outbreak.

But former Mine Workers Union of Zambia chairman for Kalumbila branch Christopher Botha described the decision as an infringement on workers’ rights.

According to an internal memo dated 17 December 2021, the new measures come into effect on 17 January 2022, a move that some workers say is aimed at giving the unvaccinated a chance to be vaccinated.

But some workers who spoke on condition of anonymity have complained that management was infringing on their rights.

In the memo signed by general manager Sean Egner, staff vaccination was at 28% but management needed over 80% to reach optimal protection levels.

“By now, you will have heard the government’s position in terms of restrictions, steps being taken to preserve life and society for all, and especially for ones who are not vaccinated. While we as a site will not immediately enforce the measures pronounced by government in accessing its own facilities, we want to encourage everyone to access the available free vaccinations,” read the memo in part. “We respect everyone’s right to decide whether they get a vaccination or not, but for the sake of the safety and wellbeing of all of our employees we are forced to implement the following measure. Access to public utilities like the Trident Country Club, restaurant, gymnasium, swimming pool, will be limited to those with vaccination certificates.”

Egner further announced that, “effective 17 January 2022, the following additional measures will be enforced: working in shared spaces/offices will be restricted to employees with evidence of having taken the vaccinations; any employee who is not vaccinated and stays away from site for more than 72 hours (three days/shifts) will be required to present a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate upon return. This will be done at employee’s own cost.

Entry/staying in onsite camps, which have shared spaces will be restricted to those in compliance with the above. Any absence relating to lack of compliance to the above will be treated as unpaid leave.”

He has informed workers that enforcement may be implemented earlier than stated in the memo reviewed depending on the government’s policy direction with regard to the new Covid wave.

Kalumbila is a subsidiary of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. which operates the Trident project, Sentinel Mine in Solwezi.

But Botha said the mine was imposing a decision on the workers.

“As former union chairman for Mine Workers Union of Zambia at Kalumbila branch, I strongly oppose FQML and KML mine management both at Kalumbila and Kansanshi Mine site for forcing workers against their will to forcefully take the highly questionable Covid-19 vaccines and for making it clearly that for anyone to work or do business with them, he or she must be vaccinated or be denied entry onto the mine site,” he said.

“The employer is wrong to impose national policy matters on the workers, especially that KML/FQML company is just a business house that has come to invest in Zambia. The employer has no legal mandate to impose on its workers or contractors or indeed any visitors on site to first present a Covid-19 vaccine certificate. This issue is beyond their armpit. Further, the employer must acknowledge that all the workers on site none of them is a child to FQML, but all are citizens of Zambia and other countries of origin respectively.”

He advised two councillors who were also employees of the mine to advise management properly.

“What is disheartening is that there are two civic leaders in the name of councillors who are actually employees of the same mine. And it so happens that one of the councillors is in middle management of KML, making him to have a better position in advising the employer on such matters,” said Botha. “It is unfortunate that there are currently three unions on site who should have sat down with management and give appropriate advice to save the company from future legal implications, should any of the forcefully vaccinated workers or indeed any worker and any concerned citizen take it up and file a lawsuit against the employer. These are sensitive matters that need proper guidance and wide consultations before coming up with such stringent measures. I strongly urge the mining company to rescind its decision or be prepared to face any legal implications. There is no law in the Zambian legislation that supports the action taken by the mining company and any other company that may want to take a similar step.”