In a report likely to pile more pressure on Chinese firms to tighten up labour practices, the New York-based body urged newly-elected Zambian President Michael Sata to follow through on campaign promises to stamp out abuse of workers in the sector.
China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the report, saying Beijing had been working closely with African countries to ensure all cooperation was beneficial to both sides, and that workers’ rights were protected.
“We have promoted employment there and contributed to the economic and social development of African countries,” spokesman Hong Lei said.
The 122-page study detailed persistent abuses in Chinese-run mines, including poor health and safety conditions, and regular 12-hour and even 18-hour shifts involving arduous labour — all in violation of Zambian law.
Furthermore, HRW said mine bosses routinely threatened to fire workers who refused to work in dangerous locations underground or tried to report their grievances to mining regulators.
The four Chinese-run copper mining companies in Zambia are subsidiaries of China Non-Ferrous Metals Mining Corporation (CNMC), a state-owned enterprise.
CNMC denied the allegations, saying miners’ safety was its highest priority and that the company had achieved an unprecedented 26 months without any fatal accidents from September 2006 to October 2008.