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The sprawling plant is now decked in Maoist-style slogans urging workers to make "vigorous efforts to make the company prosperous", yet the way it is run is capitalism at its most raw. As well as the mine's questionable safety record, workers' benefits have been slashed, unions discouraged and employees are paid as little as £53 a month, despite rising copper prices.

This is not capitalism. It's slavery. Unions are a right of assembly. Capitalists and workers can make their bargain through unions if it is the most expeditious way to accommodate one another. Communists don't permit bargaining. Unions in communist societies are as useless as mammaries on a bull.

I'm sorry, but I get the distinct impression that you think everyone is somehow entitled to work in an Osha certified air conditioned workplace. This is Zambia we are talking about, not America. They complain that the miners are paid as little as 53 pounds per month. That is 100 U.S. dollars per month, $1200 a year. You know how much the average Zambian makes per year? $395 dollars. Thats right, these "underpaid" miners according to the Brits are earning 3 times what they would working for domestic Zambian companies. If the miners don't like their job, they can quit anytime.

You know how much the average Zambian makes per year? $395 dollars. Thats right, these "underpaid" miners according to the Brits are earning 3 times what they would working for domestic Zambian companies. If the miners don't like their job, they can quit anytime.

Precisely. If Zambia were to open its entire market to foreign investment, it would catch up to and overtake China* in no time. But it has taken probably millions of dollars in bribes by the Chinese government in order to be allowed to practice raw capitalism in Zambia.

* China is doing well because it has opened the door a crack. All of Africa would do well to do the same. But they won't do it. Some of it is cronyistic protectionism of favored tycoons. Probably the rest is one-upmanship - it's not enough to be rich - the rest of the country must be poor, to improve the relative standing of the plutocrats.

I'm sorry, but I get the distinct impression that you think everyone is somehow entitled to work in an Osha certified air conditioned workplace. This is Zambia we are talking about, not America. They complain that the miners are paid as little as 53 pounds per month. That is 100 U.S. dollars per month, $1200 a year. You know how much the average Zambian makes per year? $395 dollars. Thats right, these "underpaid" miners according to the Brits are earning 3 times what they would working for domestic Zambian companies. If the miners don't like their job, they can quit anytime.

If you get the impression I think miners who risk death and lung diseases deserve to make three time more than the average Zambian, perhaps a shepherd, a clerk, or a servant then you understood me correctly. These workers are doing it for the money. There is no personal satisfaction in digging deep in the earth. I get the very distinct impression your perception of workers is they should feel gratitude and take whatever measly wage is offered them. I bet you would even hire illegal Mexicans to drive down the wages of American workers. The Chinese ruling class, the cheap labor Bush aristocrats, and the CEO's making obscene salaries and stock options peddling filth must inspire you.