By:Mauricia Koopman
The Mine Workers Union of Namibia (MUN) has expressed scepticism at the employment figures on the sector released by the Chamber of Mines.
The Chamber, this week, released its annual report in which it indicated that total direct employment increased by 6.9% in 2022, of which 8,391 were permanent employees, 742 temporary employees and 7,014 contractors.
The mining sector, the Chamber said, employed 16,147 people.
According to MUN, however, these figures show a different picture to what is on the ground.
MUN Erongo Regional Coordinator George Ampweya described it as a representation of the investors.
“The Chamber is pro-employer, and pro-investor. Most of the data captured in the report comes from the companies. We are not sure there is a fair perspective of those on the ground to ascertain the accuracy. As much as we appreciate employment creation, it should be done in a manner that is not exploitative, and should be decent to the employers,” Ampweya pointed out.
He was also of the view that the sector, in nature, always plays in favour of the investor, which results in only half of the employment figures being permanent. He pointed to B2Gold as an example.
The Canadian company recently announced that it would be folding its Otjikoto Mine operations, and effectively retrenching its over 900 workers.
“When the investor comes, they exploit unreservedly to a point that they are satisfied and then they need to close shop and go to the next destination. Employers are very reluctant to offer permanent employment, because they want to advance profit rather than decent work,” he charged.
According to him, Namibia has experienced challenges in advancing permanent employment.
Ampweya also questioned whether 97% of the mining workforce in 2022 being Namibian was a true picture.
“You have an overwhelming number of Chinese nationals who operate in the national stones and quarries in the Karibib area. Are those figures reflected in the report? The union was not given a chance to offer their view,” he further said.
Chamber Chief Executive Officer Veston Malango stated that the figures are based on what the mines report to them.
“Those are real figures. If our colleagues doubt the figures, we appreciate that, it means what we have is not what they have. What is best is to come to the table and share notes,” he told The Villager.
Malango further stated that Langer Heinrich will restart its mine next year, in the first quarter, as per reports, and will likely create 600 jobs.
“Should you doubt that? It is not just our reports. We will be creating more jobs than the jobs we are losing, like we saw with B2Gold,” Malango said.
Meanwhile, labour expert Herbert Jauch stated that closure of B2Gold Namibia will affect employment in the sector.
“Most mining jobs are just temporary, for a few years while the mining is operational. If we keep on relying on mining, it will just be jobs that are available for a time. The sector is not a place for large scale job creation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Chamber indicated that employees from mining companies paid N$2.6 billion in pay as you earn (PAYE) taxes and value added tax (VAT).