Fin24 reports that the Minerals Council SA (MCSA) said on Monday that mining companies operating in SA have already undertaken to reduce their component of foreign labour in the light of mounting pressure from surrounding communities.

Companies that are members of the MCSA (previously called the Chamber of Mines) employ around 10% of foreign workers, which is regulated by the SADC Protocol on Employment and Labour and by bilateral agreements between SA and the affected countries. With growing pressure to reduce the participation of foreigners in the labour market, the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) said last week that it wanted to revisit the bilateral arrangements, some of which dated back to the apartheid era. It indicated that in terms of a new labour migration policy proposal published last week for comment, mining houses would need to make a compelling case – just as any employer would have to – as to why foreign labour was still required. The MCSA agreed that some of the bilateral agreements were outdated and should be updated and brought in line with the SADC protocol.  It also said that it would engage with the DEL about the proposed labour migration regime. "The Minerals Council will explore all avenues to ensure that a fair balance is struck between the employment of foreign nationals, employment of South African citizens and the observance of International instruments, the SADC Protocol and bilateral agreements," it indicated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Carol Paton at Fin24 (subscriber access only)

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