Shoprite Fires Almost 3,000 Striking Zambian Workers

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Shoprite Holdings Ltd. (SHP), Africa’s biggest grocer, fired almost 3,000 workers who are striking over pay and conditions in Zambia, according to a union.

The Cape Town-based company dismissed the employees yesterday and told them they can reapply for their positions after a strike began on Oct. 14, Robert Musanje, president of the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers, said by mobile phone today from Lusaka, the capital. The strike continues, he said.

“We were busy trying to persuade the workers to return to work yesterday,” Musanje said. “As we were doing that, we received a shock that the management of Shoprite had decided to dismiss all the workers.”

Shoprite spokeswoman Sarita Van Wyk did not immediately respond to e-mailed questions today seeking confirmation of the firings.

Shoprite runs 21 stores in Zambia, Africa’s biggest copper producer, and nine Hungry Lion fast-food outlets, according to its 2013 annual report. The country has the most Shoprite stores outside South Africa, the report shows.

Union leaders will meet with Fackson Shamenda, the labor minister, and Shoprite management today, Musanje said.

“Government cannot accept” the firings, he said.

Konkola Copper Mines Plc, the Zambian unit of Vedanta Resources Plc (VED), said in May it would cut 2,000 jobs after costs rose and prices for the metal fell. The company reversed the decision in June after holding talks with government and unions.

Shoprite increased its Zambian employees’ pay in July to comply with minimum wage laws, Van Wyk said in a reply to e-mailed questions yesterday.

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1 COMMENT

  1. One wonders how Shoprite it will make money without any workers manning the checkouts! This is the time for Pick-n-Pay and others to

    wake up and provide better packages and take advantage of extra customer traffic while Shoprite deals with it's issues.

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