The Zambian government has stepped in to safeguard more than 3,000 jobs at Neelkanth Lime Limited in Ndola, following company plans to introduce automated mining and lime production systems that would have reduced the workforce to just 500 employees.
Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, MP, confirmed the intervention after touring the plant. He stated that discussions with Neelkanth management emphasized that automation should not result in massive job losses, particularly as the company works to stabilize its operations.
The intervention also addresses concerns about subcontracted workers earning extremely low wages, with some making as little as K1,070 per month for intensive manual labor. “The government has urged the company to revise the basic pay to at least K3,000 to meet labour demands,” Hon. Mulenga said.
Neelkanth Group Resident Director Gopal Kedia welcomed the government’s action. He highlighted that the recent lifting of the export ban on lime to the Democratic Republic of Congo has revived business. “The firm was on the verge of closing before exports resumed,” Kedia said, adding that Neelkanth remains committed to protecting its workforce as operations recover.
Workers at the plant have appealed for improved conditions of service, expressing gratitude to the government for ensuring they are not left behind as the company expands.
The intervention demonstrates the government’s commitment to balancing industrial modernization with job security, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of employees’ livelihoods.