BL Premium reports that the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has warned that the raft of retrenchment notices issued by mining houses in recent months could result in about 10,000 job losses by January 2024.
The union, which is affiliated to Cosatu, held its national executive committee meeting last week at which it reflected on the jobs bloodbath in the sector, which has faced major challenges in the past 18 months. These include falling commodity prices, rolling power cuts and reduced exports as a result of the dysfunction at Transnet. Several mining companies, including Glencore, Seriti, Sibanye-Stillwater and Impala Platinum, have recently issued section 189 notices. On Monday, Bakubung Platinum Mine joined those ranks, announcing that nearly 600 jobs were on the line, which would almost wipe out its 761 staff complement. NUM spokesperson Luphert Chilwane said high electricity tariffs and erratic power supply were some of the reasons advanced for slashing jobs. “Close to 10,000 jobs stand to be lost between now and January 2024. This is a huge blow. Our members and workers at large who are about to lose their jobs have nothing to celebrate this festive season,” he said. NUM also blames Transnet for job losses in the sector, which employs about 400,000 people and is key to the fiscus in terms of tax and royalties. Chilwane pointed out that Transnet’s failure to transport minerals was costing workers their jobs. The NUM is planning a march to the Presidency and the Department of Public Enterprises in December to protest against job losses in the sector. According to the quarterly labour force survey released two weeks ago, the mining sector shed 35,000 jobs in the third quarter, with more job losses expected, particularly in the platinum sector.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kabelo Khumalo at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
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