Over 600 diamond fields workers strike

higher salaries and better working relations.
The workers claim the lowest paid employee (general worker) earns $180 per month, an amount they want moved to $600 in line with the poverty datum line.
The strike began on Saturday morning and by late yesterday, the workers were still not working serve for the security department.
The Chinese company is one of the five companies Government granted licences to partner with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation to mine alluvial diamonds in Marange.
Workers in all departments including the mining, prospect, power and equipment sections were yesterday seated with the employees saying they would resume duties only after a “reasonable” salary increment.
Anjin Investments human resources manager, Ms Lindiwe Ngwenya, yesterday confirmed the standoff, but urged the workers to be patient saying results of salary negotiations were not yet out.
“I am in Harare at the moment but the workers need to know that we were paying them using investor’s money and their requests for salary increments are still being negotiated.
“We were recently given certification and we are expecting to start selling our diamonds next week and for the workers, reason should just prevail,” she said.
However, workers committee chairman, Mr John Mupfurutsa, accused management of playing “hide and seek” with the workers. “All is not rosy . We last met management on 1 November following our 30 October sit-in and the signed agreement was that we would have received increased salaries last month.