This 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.
The Citizen reports that in a statement issued on Tuesday, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said he was concerned by Gold Fields’ plan to retrench more than 1,500 employees at its troubled South Deep mine.
The company said the retrenchments were its latest attempt to turn a profit at its sole remaining operation in South Africa, which has lost the company R32 billion so far. Mantashe said the company’s planned job cuts were concerning, as they had not regarded processes in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). “We are beginning to notice a worrying trend where some mining companies do not meaningfully engage with the department on their restructuring plans and only brief us as a mere formality or tick box exercise, ignoring processes outlined in the law which are binding to every mining right holder,” Mantashe warned. He added: “It is our view that the spirit in which Gold Fields is engaging contravenes the agreed approach and the laws governing the sector.” The minister appealed to the company to engage with the department and labour unions over the possible retrenchments.
- Read this report in full at The Citizen
- See too, Mines minister concerned about Gold Fields job cuts, at Moneyweb
- Read the Minister’s press statement at Polity
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page