Inside mining capitalism : the micropolitics of work on the Congolese and Zambian copperbelts / edited by Benjamin Rubbers

Introduction: Mining Capitalism from Below -- 1 Labour Regimes: A Comparative History -- 2 Safety: The Politics of Life in a Neoliberal Labour Regime -- 3 Gender: Navigating a Male-Dominated Space -- 4 Union Elections: Marketing ‘Modern’ Unionism -- 5 Strikes: Claiming Union Power in Chinese Companies -- 6 Human Resource Managers: Mediating Capital and Labour -- Conclusion: Beyond the Neoliberal Labour Regime -- Index

Since the beginning of the 21st century, African countries with mineral resources have witnessed an unprecedented rise in foreign direct investments and the development of new flexible workforce management practices in the mining industry. But what does this mean for those who actually work in this industry? Based on research in the Congo and Zambia, where a mining boom has led to more than thirty new mining projects in recent years, this book explores the processes of improvisation and adaptation behind the emergence of this neoliberal labour regime. The contributors show how mining projects' labour practices have been mediated, negotiated, or resisted by mine workers, unionists, and human resource managers. They discuss variations in labour practices put in place by new mining projects depending on the type of capital involved, the type of mine being developed, and their location. Finally, the book examines the implications of power dynamics surrounding companies' labour strategies from the broader perspective of the responsibility of trade unions, gender equality, and identity politics.--Landing page