Johannesburg - Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), the world’s largest producer of the metal, would cut 474 jobs as part of a restructuring plan started in 2013, the company said yesterday.
The mining firm placed 774 employees from a group of 1 248 workers, “but unfortunately not all employees could be offered permanent jobs”, company spokeswoman Mpumi Sithole said.
“The remaining 474 affected employees will therefore qualify for voluntary separation packages and other benefits as per the collective agreement with the unions.”
RESTRUCTURING
Amplats announced the restructuring plans in January 2013, when it estimated it would cut as many as 14 000 positions.
The proposals were scaled back following pressure from unions and the government.
Employees led by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Workers Union (Amcu) went on strike for two weeks from September 27 the same year before a compromise was reached with the company.
“We have been working closely with Amcu representatives on the mine to ensure that all alternative measures are explored to avoid the possible terminations,” Sithole said.
Last year, the union led a five-month strike which hit 40 percent of global output of platinum and caused platinum mining houses to lose billions in revenue.
In another development, Amcu denied yesterday that it had sold out workers when it signed an agreement for retrenchments with Amplats. “It is a blue lie,” said Amcu organiser Dumisani Nkalitshani.
Former members of Amcu alleged that the union agreed with Amplats to retrench workers and close three of its mines in Rustenburg.
Expelled members Godfrey Lindani and Gaddafi Mdoda accused Amcu president Joseph Mathunjwa of setting workers against them after he allegedly told a rally last year that Mdoda, Lindani and others were signatories of an agreement which led to Amplats retrenching hundreds of workers and closing three of its mines.
“Those guys are mad. They were part and parcel of a delegation signing the agreement. They told president (Joseph) Mathunjwa that this is a good offer. There is no need to respond to their allegation, they are lying,” Nkalitshani said.
Lindani is one of the 474 workers who would be retrenched. He was given a medical exit appointment for yesterday. “We are going for medical thereafter we will be unemployed. The union sold out workers with this retrenchment agreement. Workers are angry, they want the union to intervene,” he said.
Amplats said in 2013 it began consolidation of the company’s Rustenburg mines in order to create a sustainable platinum industry for the benefit of all South Africans.
“As part of this restructuring, there was extensive consultations with unions, facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Where retrenchments were necessary, Anglo American Platinum committed to further explore employment opportunities for affected employees,” Anglo spokesman Hulisani Rasivhaga said.
He said the firm was aware that this was a difficult time for the affected employees.
“Over the last few weeks we have been communicating with the unions and the affected employees as well as the communities – the Rustenburg Community Engagement Forum – on the retrenchment process and we commit ourselves to continue to engage with all the relevant parties. A social impact mitigation plan is in place to assist the affected employees.”
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said it was going to challenge the decision to retrench workers.
The spokesman for NUM, Livhuwani Mammburu, said the union was consulting lawyers following the decision by Amplats’ Khomanani mine in Rustenburg to cut jobs.
NUM deputy general secretary Tshimane Montoedi said workers at the mine were angry. “Workers are flocking to the offices of the NUM expressing disappointment caused by Amcu and the company, saying they have been misled by this union for so long,” he said.
Last week, NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said more than 30 000 jobs were lost in the mining sector between 2012 and last year.
Amplats shares rose 3.55 percent to close at R338.