Highlight:
Workers at Geita Gold Mining Limited have launched a food strike, demanding the reinstatement of full education allowances for their children. The dispute, stemming from a 25% reduction in the agreed benefits, underscores tensions over employee welfare and corporate policies.
Workers Protest Reduced Allowances
GEITA – Workers at Geita Gold Mining Limited (GGML) have entered their second day of a food strike, demanding that the company reinstate full education allowances for their children. The allowances, outlined in the “Improved Welfare Agreement,” were reduced from 10 million to 7.5 million Tanzanian shillings for employees with four children.
The strike began on Thursday at the mining site. Workers claim the reduction affects their ability to fund their children’s education and violates the agreement, which obligates GGML to provide 2.5 million shillings annually per child for up to four children.
Employees Speak Out
“The employer initially proposed giving the same amount to everyone, regardless of whether they had children. That idea was acceptable,” one employee said. “However, they reduced the amount for everyone, which we cannot support.”
Another worker criticized GGML’s approach to handling fraud allegations. Some employees reportedly forged children’s certificates to benefit from the allowance. “Instead of punishing those individuals, the company decided to penalize all of us,” the worker explained.
Impact of the Dispute
Employees have boycotted meals at the site, demanding that GGML reallocate the food budget to cover the full education allowances. With the new school year approaching in January, they say this adjustment is urgent.
Workers also argue that the cuts are unjustified given GGML’s reported 2023 profit of over 5 trillion shillings. By reducing the total education allowance from 18 billion to 16 billion shillings, they claim the company is prioritizing cost-cutting over employee welfare.
Management Responds
GGML Managing Director Duran Archery addressed the situation in a statement issued on Friday. He clarified that negotiations regarding the allowance are ongoing, contrary to workers’ claims that they had been suspended.
“The term ‘until further notice’ in the joint statement was misunderstood. It does not mean negotiations are over. We still have time before the payment deadline in the first week of January 2025,” Archery stated.
Archery urged employees to resume their meal schedules, emphasizing that discussions could continue while operations remained efficient.
A Standoff Continues
Despite the statement, workers remain firm in their stance. They insist the company must restore the full education allowance to honor its commitments and support their families.
The strike highlights the challenges of balancing employee welfare with corporate financial policies. As negotiations progress, all eyes are on how GGML resolves the dispute while maintaining trust and operational stability.
