UPDATE ON THE ILLEGAL WORK STOPPAGE AT FQMO MINING DIVISION, KANSANSHI

KANSANSHI, ZAMBIA – On the 10 September 2021, First Quantum Mining and Operations Limited (FQMO) reported that a number of its employees from its Mining Division, based at the Kansanshi Mine, participated in an illegal work stoppage on the 9 and 10 September.  This illegal action affected two work shifts.  There was no impact to wider Kansanshi Mine employees or operations.

The illegal work stoppage was related to the introduction of a newly planned but voluntary employee pension scheme, following mutual agreement between FQMO Mining Division all the unions representing the employees’ interests during the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations in December 2020.

There was no justification for this illegal work stoppage. FQMO’s disciplinary code is clear in that participating-in or inciting in an illegal work stoppage is a dismissible offence.

Following the illegal work stoppage, and pending investigations, a total of 275 employees were suspended.  Subsequently, FQMO’s disciplinary due process, has delivered the following outcomes:

• Fourteen employees have been cleared of any wrongdoing and have returned to work.
• A further 250 employees were dismissed but have since been reinstated on Final Warnings after their appeals were approved. These employees have returned to work.       
• Regrettably, 11 employees have been dismissed after appeals against their dismissals were rejected. 

FQMO remains committed to good faith negotiations with elected unions’ representatives, on the Pension Scheme and all other employee matters, via formerly establish channels and dispute resolution processes.  Participating in any illegal work stoppage; or inciting and intimidating fellow employees to participate in any such stoppage, is unacceptable and FQMO appeals to employees to refrain from these activities in future.