Without miner safety and welfare, reforms in mining industry amount to no gain —Mine Workers Union

The Mine-Workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) says government’s restructuring of the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development — including the creation of the Minerals Regulation Commission (MRC) — marks a significant step toward strengthening oversight in the mining sector, but stresses that the reforms will only be meaningful if they put miner safety and welfare at the forefront.

The restructuring, which places the Mine Safety Department and the Cadastre Department under one independent statutory body, id expected to improve regulatory efficiency, streamline licensing, and enhance compliance monitoring across the country’s mining operations.

MUZ president, Joseph Chewe, in a statement said the step had the potential to close long-standing enforcement gaps but stressed that miner welfare must remain at the centre of the reform.

“This restructuring is an important milestone, but its success will depend on whether the new Commission prioritises the health, safety and dignity of mineworkers. For too long, workers have faced unsafe conditions, weak enforcement of standards and slow action against non-compliant companies. These issues must not carry over into the new regulatory era,” Chewe said.

He said the union acknowledges government’s intentions but insisted that meaningful change will only be achieved if the MRC’s operational framework explicitly protected workers’ interests.

Among the union’s key demands are strict and measurable enforcement of occupational health and safety standards, enhanced routine medical surveillance for miners, zero tolerance for companies that disregard safety, and formal worker representation in the Commission’s decision-making structures.

He also wants the new regulator to be adequately funded and staffed to guarantee regular inspections nationwide, including in artisanal and small-scale mining areas.

Chewe emphasised the need for accessible channels for worker complaints and whistleblowing to ensure that safety breaches are addressed promptly and without retaliation.

“Workers must have full confidence that the Commission will act swiftly and fairly when safety concerns are raised. We stand ready to collaborate with Government to ensure that this transition delivers real improvements on the ground,” he said

As government moves toward operationalising the MRC, the union says it would continue engaging authorities and industry stakeholders to ensure the restructuring leads to safer, more transparent and worker-centred mining operations across Zambia.

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