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The Citizen reports that mining houses and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are at loggerheads over concerns expressed by the union about some mining companies continuing their operations, despite the declaration of a 21-day lockdown as a measure to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
NUM president Joseph Montisetse described it as “worrying and disturbing” that some mines operated on reduced staff, “showing they don’t care about the lives of their employees”. He commented further as follows: “They care about profits, which cannot outweigh the lives of mineworkers. The decision to continue operating is barbaric, reckless, inhuman and irresponsible. As the NUM, we want to know who gave these mining companies the right to operate during the 21-day lockdown. The NUM, said Montisetse, was also “extremely unhappy with some companies who have resorted to a no-work-no pay policy during the lockdown”. In response, Minerals Council SA spokesperson Charmaine Russell confirmed that some mining companies were in operation, but were “supportive of measures announced by President Ramaphosa”. She explained as follows: “Companies servicing critical export markets may have applied for exemptions on a case-by-case basis for limited operations. Activities involved in internal essential services, including security, ventilation, cooling and pumping, refrigeration, tailings facilities and specialised maintenance, are continuing and so is the provision of water and other supplies to communities and services to staff residences.”
- Read the original of the report in the above regard by Eric Naki and Brian Sokutu at The Citizen
- Read too, Anglo American on operating during lockdown: 'We care for workers and the economy', at TimesLIVE
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page