THE National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW) says 306 employees from Master Mine Service Zambia Limited, a contracting firm at KCM doing dewatering have had their contracts terminated.

NUMAW president Saul Simujika says reports on social media indicating that 1,500 employees at Master Mine Service have been laid off are false because the firm in question only had 465 workforce.

He revealed that 79 workers had been maintained and were dewatering the mine in Chililabombwe.

“The impression that has been created on social media that Master Mine Service has laid off 1,500 workers at KCM in Chililabombwe is not true because this contracting firm at KCM only has about 465 workers, however the 306 have been laid off, this started late last year, to be specific on 6th September 2023, when Master Mine Service management decided to send not more than 400 workers on forced leave for the reasons [that] they were owed money by KCM and were failing to meet certain obligations, but those workers who were placed on forced leave were getting salaries, but now management at this contracting firm cannot sustain payment of the workers hence 306 have been laid off but 79 are working,” he said.

Simujika said the union was concerned because there was nothing happening apart from dewatering KCM.

“We are concerned as the union but we know that government and KCM is doing everything possible to ensure revamping of operations at KCM, currently there is nothing happening apart from dewatering,” said Simujika.

He further called for urgent measures to save jobs at KCM.