Zambia’s Chinese-owned copper mines have come under scrutiny recently from Human Rights Watch, due to their unsafe working conditions and apparent disregard for workers’ rights. To make matters worse, those who join unions or complain about safety face intimidation and job insecurity:
Miners in companies run by the Chinese or other multinationals also described retaliation against outspoken union representatives, including docked pay or refusal to renew their contracts.
Copper is Zambia’s biggest export.
(photo: mm-j)
