Today's Labour News

newsThis news aggregator site highlights South African labour news from a wide range of internet and print sources. Each posting has a synopsis of the source article, together with a link or reference to the original. Postings cover the range of labour related matters from industrial relations to generalist human resources.

coalMining Weekly writes that the certification of class action status to current and former gold mineworkers suffering from silicosis and tuberculosis potentially opens the door for similar litigation across several sectors, including coal and manganese.  

The action is against over 30 historic and current gold mining companies in South Africa.  Paul Fouché of law firm Fasken Martineau explains that there is common ground between the sectors in so far as miners have contracted lung diseases by inhaling the dust at mining operations.  He points out that cases of pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease, caused by the inhalation of coal dust, have been well documented.  Further, a research paper last year reported that the possibility of class action litigation against South African coal mining companies was being investigated, and that there could be future class action litigation against manganese mining companies.


Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page