Times Of Swaziland: 60 WORKERS LOSE JOBS AT LUFAFA

60 WORKERS LOSE JOBS AT LUFAFA
================================================================================
BY JOSEPH ZULU on 30/03/2017 08:21:00


PIGGS PEAK – The mining contract between Lomati Mine and QLC Mining has been
separated, leaving close to 60 workers without jobs.
The workers called this publication stating that they had been informed on
Monday that tomorrow would be their last day at work.
They said they were concerned about the loss of their jobs and their terminal
benefits.
Lomati Mine was formerly known as Lufafa Mine.
It was granted the licence to mine for gold and it began operating at the
beginning of last year.
The licence holder subcontracted the management of mining at the mine to QLC
Mining, and it is the marriage between these two that is ending.
According to a well-placed source on site at the mine, who requested anonymity
as he is not authorised to speak on behalf of the mine, the parting of ways
between the two companies is something that the companies have been discussing
for a while.
He said, according to the agreement between Lomati Mine and QLC Mining, the
workers were hired by the latter as it was in charge of mining and that is why
they will be affected by these changes. “The mine is not closing down. It will
continue to operate and the only people who will be affected will be the
labourers and creditors.
A plan has already been put in place to take care of the labourers,” the
source said.
Lomati Mine would now take full and complete control of running the mine, the
source revealed.
He said there was no crisis at the mine as the separation was by mutual
agreement.
The source further revealed that Lomati Mine was already in the middle of a
process of acquiring the necessary skilled technical personnel, who will take
over all the duties that were being handled by QLC Mining.
The concerns by the employees were also reported to the Ministry of Labour and
Social Security.