FQM and Mine Unions Sign Agreement for Better Pay and Benefits
First Quantum Minerals (FQM), through its subsidiaries Kansanshi Mining and FQM Trident, has signed a new agreement with six key unions to improve employee salaries and benefits for 2025 and 2026.
Starting January 2025, eligible workers will receive a 15% salary increase. The agreement also includes an additional 15% raise for 2026 and improved allowances for education and leave, as well as better pension contributions and long-service rewards.
The unions involved are the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ), Miners and Allied Workers Union (MAWU), United Mine Workers Union of Zambia (UMUZ), Artisans and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (MTAAWUZ), and the Consolidated Miners and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (CMAWUZ).
FQM Trident’s Assistant General Manager, Frederic Wouters, praised the teamwork between management and unions. He said the agreement shows the company’s commitment to workers despite challenges like rising costs and limited electricity.
Kansanshi Mining’s Assistant General Manager, Axel Kottgen, added that the partnership with unions is key to ensuring employee safety and productivity. He highlighted the importance of ongoing projects like the S3 expansion, which is expected to create more jobs and boost Zambia’s economy.
Union leader Saul Simujika welcomed the agreement, calling it a win-win deal for both workers and the company. He encouraged continued cooperation to achieve national economic goals.
