SCENARIO 3
As the preparatory phase of the mine has been completed and operations are about to start, even more people hoping to find economic opportunities have moved to Area West, particularly to Magda Township: an adjacent community close to the mine. Magda Township has expanded so much that it now has the characteristics of a town rather than a village.
The mine activities has already spurred the economic activities and the development of infrastructure in the area, with Magda Township as the economic centre. New schools, bars, shops and places of worship are quickly being established to cater to the needs and wants of the growing population. Many public services are now also becoming available in in Magda Township that were previously only accessible in Westship.
Occasional reports on clashes between the native population and the newly immigrated find their way to your desk. You understand that tensions are high between the different local communities and the immigration-dominated Magda Township. Luckily, no violent conflicts have erupted so far.
Many people are hoping to find jobs in the new mine, encouraged by the promise made by Magda Mining that a large part of their workforce would be “locally hired”. Expectations on the mining company are high, as many people are anticipating a quick alleviation out of poverty through employment.
As the company starts the recruitment process, it soon becomes evident that the native people of the area who applied for jobs have mostly received short-term contracts doing simpler tasks, whereas many of the full-time employments for more advanced jobs have been given to newly arrived people. You receive a phone call from the newly established police post in Magda Township. According to the police officer, an angry mob has gathered outside demanding to speak to the “mine inspecting authorities”. You immediately leave to the township.
You arrive to find the angry mob threatening to “purge” Magda Township of the “thieves” therein. “They have taken the jobs in the mine that were meant for us, the real locals!” shouts an angry young man. You manage to calm the situation and disband the mob on the premise that you will discuss the matter with the mining company.
You make contact with the mining company and inform them of the situation, and how the native people felt that they were the rightful locals to be hired by the company rather than the newly arrived. They company immediately distort with their own interpretation of local. Since they are a multinational company, local for them meant simply someone from Pangora. They continue to explain that the native population of Area West was inexperienced in mining work, as compared to many of the immigrated people.
You wonder what you can do to reduce the conflict. You consider to simply make a strong official statement towards the troublemakers in Area West, making it clear that their accusations are ill-founded. Hopefully this will be enough to cool the heated situation. You could also try to facilitate mediation talks in new stakeholder meetings, but you worry that this may be received as coddling of aggressive behaviour.
What do you do?
Facilitate mediation talks in the communities.
Make a firm statement to make protesters back down.