Namibian minister seeks contract reforms
Modestus Amutse, Namibia’s mines and energy minister, urged the mining industry to curb repeated use of short-term employment contracts. Speaking at the Mineworkers Union of Namibia’s Northern Regional Roundtable in Tsumeb on Saturday, he said the practice undermines job security, skills development and access to employment benefits while creating uncertainty for workers who need stable incomes.
Amutse proposed stronger enforcement of labour laws, statutory limits on prolonged temporary employment, equal pay for work of equal value and joint liability between mining companies and labour-hire agencies. He also called on mining businesses to take greater responsibility for workers employed through contractors. His remarks represented ministerial advocacy rather than a reported change in law.
Rwanda approves regulator restructuring
Rwanda’s Cabinet approved a new organisational structure intended to allow the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board to operate as an independent institution, according to KT Press. The reported government decision concerns the regulator’s future institutional status; the available account does not establish that the restructuring has already been implemented.
Bunker Hill ramps up processing
The reopened Bunker Hill Mine in Kellogg, Idaho, is processing about 1,200 tons a day, Idaho News 6 reported. The company aims to raise that rate to 1,800 tons daily and has produced its first concentrate.
Bunker Hill Mining Corp chief executive Sam Ash said the company expects to reach commercial production by the end of 2026. That deadline remains a company target rather than an achieved milestone. The Environmental Protection Agency has documented environmental damage from historical mining and smelting in the region, while concerns identified in the report include water quality, wildlife and long-term changes to land.