Sino Kaiyuan Mining Fined K130,000 for Breaking Labour Laws
Sino Kaiyuan Mining Company Limited has been fined K130,000 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security for multiple violations of Zambian labour laws.
The charges arose from the company’s failure to register 63 expatriate employees, non-provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), and the absence of essential employment policies, contrary to the Employment Code Act, Cap 268.
The fines include K40,000 for unregistered expatriates, K40,000 for breaching occupational health and safety standards, and K50,000 for lacking proper employment policies.
During a joint inspection, Assistant Labour Commissioner Kaunda Mwale, the Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management (ZIHRM), the Workers’ Compensation Fund Control Board (WCFCB), and the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) assessed the company’s operations.
Present was Minister of Labour and Social Security, Brenda Mwika Tambatamba, who also serves as Kasempa Constituency Member of Parliament.
Sino Kaiyuan was directed to procure a bus for safe worker transportation, improve meal quality, and enhance sanitation standards.
Minister Tambatamba emphasised that workers’ rights must take priority over profits and that companies must uphold both national and international labour standards.
“Corporate social responsibility must start with the fair and humane treatment of workers. Before a company speaks of community projects, it must ensure that those who drive its productivity are treated with dignity and protected at work,” she said.
She also stressed the importance of allowing workers to join trade unions and engage in collective bargaining, describing constructive engagement between employees and management as vital for stable and productive workplaces.
The Minister highlighted the role of Human Resource practitioners in enforcing labour law compliance, stating that HR serves as a frontline for employee advocacy while ensuring organisational adherence to regulations.
Employers across all sectors were urged to fully comply with labour laws, including ensuring worker safety, proper employment documentation, and adherence to guidelines for expatriate employment.
