Bloomberg reports that the National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) has the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to force state oil company PetroSA to provide more information on proposals that may result in 40% of its employees losing their jobs.

In a statement on Wednesday, the union said it had made submissions to the CCMA "on the absolute refusal by PetroSA management to divulge crucial information." The company has served notices to lay-off at least 500 of its 1,200 employees, according to the union. The job cuts are proposed as SA prepares to create an even bigger national oil company. The Central Energy Fund, which oversees the state’s energy assets, has reportedly been mandated to merge PetroSA with gas and fuel-management companies because of its "solvency and liquidity challenges." PetroSA has ducked questions about supply contracts and the closing of its 45,000 barrel-a-day gas-to-liquids plant in Mossel Bay, according to the union. "Workers are worried" because the refinery shut in December, stopped producing fuel and there appeared to be no plan to pay employees’ salaries, Numsa said. The union also said PetroSA refused to disclose information around contracts and service providers that could help save jobs. A ruling by the CCMA is expected on 24 March.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Paul Burkhardt at Fin24

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