A 100% pay rise for all employees, a 13th month’s salary to reward workers’ efforts, and the departure of the Managing Director and the Director of Human Resources are among the points on the platform of demands of the workers at the Houndé Gold mine. These demands were made public on Sunday 21 January 2024 during a strike that led to the closure of the mine.
In a copy of the mine workers’ platform of demands that Minesactu.info was able to consult, the workers listed the points that the mine management should resolve before the resumption of activities on the site. They demand the unconditional departure of a number of people, including the General Manager, Adama Sawadogo, Boureima Mone, Noraogo Paul Nabi, Dr Mariétou Zalle, Laye Kondé, Jean Camille Ziba, Fulbert Kaboré, Alidou Sanfo and Halidou Kindo.
Managing Director Adama Sawadogo has spent his career in the Group’s mines. From Karma he moved to Boungou before being appointed to Houndé Gold.
The platform includes a demand for rotation. The workers are demanding a rotation of 7 days’ work and 7 days’ rest, with all overtime paid in accordance with the law. They are also demanding the immediate distribution of drinking water in cylinders, a 100% pay rise for all employees, a revision of the health insurance premium to 100%, and the regularisation of employment contracts for workers occupying positions for which they do not have salaries.
The workers are also demanding open-ended employment contracts for all employees who have had their contracts renewed at least twice, the granting of hazard pay, the reorganisation of medical check-ups and the declaration of occupational illnesses by OST doctors. Finally, it is demanding a (13th) monthly salary to reward workers’ efforts.
As a reminder, Houndé Gold is operated by Endeavour Mining.
This is not the mine’s first crisis. In May 2022, several artisanal miners attacked and set fire to equipment on the site after a demonstration. Unfortunately, 2 people were killed. In July 2023, another demonstration was recorded after the death of a gold miner following a clash with mine security officers.
Tiba Kassamse OUEDRAOGO
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