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3 February, 2026The Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ), an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, has secured a victory in its latest round of collective bargaining with Lumwana Copper Mines, a key subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. The parties finalized an agreement in Lusaka granting unionized workers a 13 per cent wage increase, effective for the year.
The Mine Workers’ Union of Zambia (MUZ), an IndustriALL Global Union affiliate, has secured a victory in its latest round of collective bargaining with Lumwana Copper Mines, a key subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. The parties finalized an agreement in Lusaka granting unionized workers a 13 per cent wage increase, effective for the year.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on 31 January, George Mumba, MUZ general secretary, pressed the company to go beyond wage adjustments. He advocated for the implementation of living wages to levels sufficient to support a decent standard of living for workers and their families alongside firmer commitments to environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to mining affected communities.
“This agreement reflects the strength of collective bargaining and the unity of our members. We need robust provisions for occupational health and safety, comprehensive social protection, greater job security and wages that reflect the true cost of living,”
Mumba emphasized. MUZ has over 1,100 members at Lumwana. Further, he argued that sustainable mining practices, which prioritise community welfare and environmental stewardship, are essential if the industry is to contribute meaningfully to national development in Zambia rather than only extracting resources for export.
The agreement arrives at a pivotal moment for Lumwana. Barrick Gold has committed to a substantial capital outlay of US$2 billion to fund the Super Pit Expansion Project, a major initiative designed to transform the operation into a Tier One copper mine. This ambitious programme, already under way, aims to double annual copper output to approximately 240,000 tonnes through the construction of a significantly enlarged processing plant with a capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum. Such investments are being boosted by favourable global copper demand which is driven by the energy transition and electrification trends.
However, the wage deal also highlights broader challenges facing workers on the Zambian copper belt. While the 13 per cent rise represents a meaningful gain for workers translating, in some cases, to increases of between K1,100 ($56) for lower-paid workers and K2,500 ($127) for higher earners it occurs against a backdrop of inflationary pressures and rising living costs that have eroded purchasing power across the economy.
Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL director for mining, said:
“In a mining industry where commodity price volatility and geopolitical uncertainties loom large, Zambia’s copper sector must pay living wages. Sustainable mining depends not only on production volumes and capital inflows, but also on fostering industrial relations that support job security and community development.”
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