Johannesburg - A lack of communication and unwillingness to compromise were undermining labour relations in South Africa, Tito Mboweni, the chairman of AngloGold Ashanti, said last week.
There were “examples of adversarial labour relations, lack of negotiation in good faith, unrealistic wage demands and poor communication between management and workers” that were weighing on bargaining talks, Mboweni, who served as labour minister from 1994 until 1998 and thereafter as Reserve Bank governor, said in an Africa-Ireland forum on Thursday in Dublin.
The mining industry has been wracked by strikes since last year, disrupting exports and limiting economic growth.
Members of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union at Anglo American Platinum’s mines have been on strike since September 27 to protest against jobs cuts.
“The recent history of labour relations in South Africa has not been a proud one and poor communication, a lack of respect and good faith, destructive behaviour and an unwillingness to compromise have been observed far too often.” – Bloomberg