Mining Weekly reports that Harmony Gold has published a document outlining the measures it has implemented to protect returning employees from contracting or spreading Covid-19.
The company operates in SA and Papua New Guinea, which each implemented lockdown measures from mid-March. Both countries have now allowed mining operations to resume to a certain extent. Harmony’s recall of employees from within SA and labour-sending areas within the SA Development Community (SADC) has been informed by stakeholder engagement and return to work action plans. The engagement included discussions with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, trade unions, joint operational centres, SA provincial command centres, the consulates of SADC countries and Teba, which provides a range of employee-related services to the mining industry. “We have human resources teams at each of our operations responsible for selecting returning employees, who are then notified by SMS or their local Teba office. Travelling permits can be accessed from the Harmony website and either printed by employees or collected at their local Teba office or police station,” CEO Peter Steenkamp indicated. Harmony has also developed an app called Harmony Connect to keep employees informed about the return to work process and the importance of the containment measures. Harmony has implemented screening and cleaning initiatives at hostel areas as well.
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