The owner of the Mothae diamond mine in Lesotho has placed 400 employees on forced leave, slashing their pay by 50%, according to a local union.
The management attributed the temporary layoffs to the slow diamond market in Europe, IndustriALL global union said last week. The salary cuts breach the country’s labor laws, alleged the Independent Democratic Union of Lesotho (IDUL) an IndustriALL affiliate.
“Mothae diamond mine must respect trade union rights to collective bargaining and refrain from acting unilaterally where workers’ and trade union rights are concerned,” said IDUL general secretary May Rathakane.
The mine’s owner broke the law by failing to consult IDUL, it charged. The union expressed concern that the mining sector was neglecting workers’ rights, urging the government to intervene to enforce labor standards and to protect jobs.
“Market volatility is not an excuse to withhold full wages,” said Glen Mpufane, director of mining and diamonds at IndustriALL. “Diamond mining companies must plan for booms and slumps rather than sacrificing workers’ wages.”
In 2024, Lucapa sold its 70% stake in the Mothae mine to local mining and construction company Lephema Executive Transport. The Mothae site’s layoffs come amid the transition in ownership.
Image: The Mothae mine in Lesotho. (Lucapa Diamond Company)
