London Mining is now a signatory to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between mining companies and the United Mine Workers’ Union of Sierra Leone the company said in a release made public on Thursday.
The agreement, issued by the Ministry of Employment, Labour and Social Security under the Industrial Relations Act of 1971, sets out the rights and responsibilities of the union and mining companies for all employees below supervisory level including wage scales, working hours, allowances, overtime, benefits, training, health and safety, grievance mechanisms and procedures.
At the signing ceremony held at London Mining’s Freetown offices, Gerhard Hermann, the company’s General Manager of Operations, congratulated the trade union and management of mining companies in Sierra Leone for negotiating the industry wide agreement. He went on to say, “This joint regulation of the terms and conditions of employment will mutually benefit the staff and the mining companies in the country.”
The Secretary-General of United Mine Works’ Union, Ezekiel R. Dyke, called for a harmonious working relationship between the trade union and the mining companies, and assured all of the union’s continued support in accordance with the spirit and letter of the bargaining agreement
Ahmed F. Musa, Commissioner of Labour in the Ministry of Employment, urged all parties to cooperate in the implementation of the agreement, saying “You are all reminded that once the Trade Group Agreement has been signed and gazetted, it becomes binding on all stakeholders operating in the mining sector.”
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