Union challenges MP Mining to rectify employees' contracts

Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) says it has been called upon to confront the looming job losses and poor safety standards at MP Mining.MP Mining is the mineral license holder of Kopano Copper Mining operation, a copper operation situated near Dukwi village, in the Central District. It is a foreign investor-owned operation that mines critical minerals, including copper and cobalt.Mine Workers Union General Secretary, Mbiganyi Gaekgotswe, stated that the market for these commodities has been doing well and the company has been making money through its mineral export revenue.“MP Mining has employed approximately 750 employees on short-term contracts. The BMWU, being the only recognised trade union in the mining sector and enjoying recognition by MP Mining as its employees' bargaining agent, at its legislated bargaining forum, proposed the conversion of its members' short-term employment contracts to permanent and pensionable,” he said.Gaekgotswe said MP Mining management delayed actioning this proposal under the excuse they were seeking mandate from their principals, a tactic they often use, up until 28 October 2025, when they finally agreed to the Union’s proposition. The accession by MP Mining, came on the eve of employees’ contract expiration dates which were in November and December respectively.“Considering that the feedback from MP Mining was brought at the 11th hour, the Union proposed to effect the conversion on the date of the agreement which was the 28th October 2025, however, management refused opting to effect the conversion in February of 2026.”According to the union, the approach taken by management is a strategy to reduce the workforce at MP Mining by facilitating contract expiration by effluxion of time leaving workers jobless.Gaekgotswe notes that unemployment levels in Botswana have reached double digits and MP Mining’s refusal to convert contracts is tantamount to a refusal to create sustainable employment which is a derogation from Governments commitment to create 100,000 jobs a year (in the next five years) and a violation of the National Employment Policy of 2021.“Operations mining critical minerals such as copper and cobalt are enjoined to observe the highest standards of ESG including respect for decent work and labour rights. An employee working on a short-term contract at a time when a company is profitable cannot be regarded as decent work. MP Mining management is clearly showing a blatant disregard for the country’s labour laws and shows no respect for its workers’ rights,” he said.The major concern for the Union, is the employee’s psychological safety to raise safety concerns, which if they do, they are threatened, victimised and worse, punished with dismissals or non-renewal of their employment contracts. In spite of the fatality, no major risk or safety measures have been put in place at MP Mining, the general secretary decried.He said the act of suppressing workers from raising safety concerns is still ongoing, and has worsened. Nothing will stop MP Mining management from exposing workers to risk without the intervention of the regulatory authority or department to enforce stern regulations against the mine and ensure that the mine is safe to work in.The union has called on the Mine management to convert all employees on short-term contracts to permanent and pensionable save for those who are due for retirement.The union also called on MP Mining management to comply with safety standards and all mining regulations and legislation governing health and safety in the mines.“We call on the government through the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs to swiftly intervene to ensure employees jobs are protected. We call on the government through the Ministry and Mineral and Energy to make labour non-compliance a condition in the revocation of mining licenses. We call on the government through the Ministries of Minerals and Labour to conduct regular joint inspections on the safety and labour rights of workers at MP Mining."

Explore

More

News

Union challenges MP Mining to rectify employees' contracts