Mining job cuts
Unions warn auto and mining industries of possible strike action
Wage talks between employers in the automotive industry and unions have collapsed in their infancy.
Implats plans to trim staff by about a third - more than 13,000 jobs - over two years at its labour-intensive, conventional operations in the Rustenburg platinum belt.
Joseph Mathunjwa warned last week of unspecified industrial action by his Amcu at Implats over its plans to cut around a third of its workforce, in a bid to return to profits in the face of depressed prices and soaring costs.
Napoleon Webster says that President Ramaphosa should exercise his power in dealing with mine management who are determined to retrench workers.
Mining Minister Gwede Mantashe has said Gold Fields’ plans to slash jobs is taking the ‘easy way out’ and avoids tackling the real issue of poor management.
Gold Fields, which is due to report half-year results later, said this week it would cut 1,100 permanent jobs at its South Deep mine, sending its shares plummeting.
Radio 702's Karima Brown interviews the ANC's head of presidency, Zizi Kodwa.
Cosatu is reacting to reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration is planning to lay off 30,000 public servants in the next three years as part cost-cutting measures.
Amcu held a briefing on Tuesday following an announcement last week that the platinum producer plans to cut around 13,000 jobs over the next two years.
On Tuesday, Amcu held a briefing warning of a looming strike in the sector if talks over planned retrenchments fail.
Amcu has accused the government of being a capitalist state and making it easy for mining bosses to abuse their employees.
The mining company announced restructuring plans today that that could lead to thousands of jobs losses.
In October, the platinum miner announced plans to cut over 1,000 jobs due to persistently low commodity prices and rising costs.
The mine this week recorded a 9.6% increase in production.
London-listed Lonmin, whose mines are all in South Africa, is also battling a strengthening South African currency and numerous operational issues.
The measures are in response to a subdued South African economy and inflationary pressures on the platinum mining industry, the company said on Monday.
It says it’s also concerned about the Bokoni Platinum Mine’s plan to cut over 2,600 permanent jobs by next month.
NUM says it’s concerned about the job cuts, saying it’s done deliberately as a political play against workers.
Sibanye Gold announced on Thursday that it intends to retrench around 7,400 workers at its Gauteng and Free State operations.