By Own Correspondent

CHINESE miner SinoHydro has come under spotlight for gazetting various levels of fines imposed on workers who breach company regulations.

Leaked documents originating from the company shows that one coal yard driver, Trymore Mbila, had his salary deducted by US$50 for an alleged offence of “low sense of responsibility at work, a lot of randomness…lack of self-control, and an improper work attitude.”

Chinese managers on observations reportedly found Mbila absent from his work station around 8pm on 23 February 2024.

“(The) coal yard driver cannot strictly abide by the company’s rules and regulations, cannot be strict with them, and violate the company’s relevant regulations and requirements (sic),” reads the notice.

The notice warns other employees against absenting themselves from work and says, in future, those that fail to arrive for a shift at least 30 minutes before time will be fined an arbitrary US$15 while absenting oneself without leave will attract a US$50 fine.

“Please take it as a warning and correct your work attitude,” the notice states.

The following month, Chrispus Sakala, a coal conveyor, was also fined US$50 for allegedly leaving the plant without authority.

Chinese companies have lately come under the spotlight across Africa as they face numerous allegations of ill-treating workers in all unimaginable forms.

The Asian companies are also known for exposing their workers to long hours, wage withholding, poor living and working conditions, and poor health and safety protection and forced labor are endemic to Chinese companies. Passport confiscation is a common practice to strip workers of the freedom to leave and select new employers.