Kagem Secures Two-Year Pay Deal with Mine Unions
Kagem Mining Limited has successfully concluded a collective bargaining agreement for the 2026–2027 period, granting unionised employees a 10 per cent salary increase in 2026 and a further 10 per cent increment in 2027.
The agreement, negotiated between Kagem management and the Mine Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and the National Union of Miners and Allied Workers (NUMAW), also introduces a 13th salary cheque to be paid in December.
The payment, equivalent to 100 per cent of an employee’s monthly basic salary, will replace the traditional Christmas bonus. The deal includes additional upward adjustments to employee benefits.
Kagem’s General Manager, Adriaan Prinsloo, said the agreement reflects a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding between management and workers, and would support continued productivity at the mine.
He noted that the salary adjustments would have positive ripple effects on workers’ families and surrounding communities, while contributing to the national economy through sustained emerald production.
NUMAW President Saul Simujika praised Kagem’s management for maintaining open dialogue and engagement with workers and stakeholders, and encouraged the company to continue with the same approach.
The collective agreement has been approved by the Labour Commissioner in Lusaka and marks the fourth consecutive year that Kagem has honoured such commitments to its workforce.
Kagem, a world-leading emerald mine based in Lufwanyama, employs more than 1,200 permanent and pensionable workers, 92 per cent of whom are Zambian nationals. The mine is 75 per cent owned by Gemfields and 25 per cent by the Zambian government’s Industrial Development Corporation.
