Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
About 20 workers are expected to be laid off at Lafarge Cement Zambia by the end of October as part of the company’s restructuring.
Confirming the development in an exclusive interview with q-news, company chief executive officer, Vincent Bouckaert says the development is as a result of increased competition on the market which has come about mainly because of a Chinese mining company which has entered the market selling its cement at a much cheaper price.
Vincent Bouckaert
Mr. Bouckaert says the company has to put in place restricting plans which will see some workers being declared redundant for it to continue being efficient and competitive.
He has disclosed that majority of the workers who will be affected are from the chilanga plant.
He states that the company currently has about 400 employees in Ndola and chilanga.
Mr. Bouckaert has however stated that the affected workers will be given all that is due to them, adding the company has already communicated to them and has necessitated for counseling sessions for them.
Meanwhile Mr. Bouckaert has clarified that the worker who was reported to have died on duty died as a result of a health condition and not as a result of an accident at work as reported in some sections of the media.
He says Lafarge cement is committed to ensuring the safety of its workers while on duty.