Johannesburg - Cosatu expressed outrage on Friday over Anglo American Platinum's announcement that it could cut 6000 jobs.
“Thousands of families face losing their only breadwinner and communities... will be devastated by the impact of such heavy job losses,” Congress of SA Trade Unions spokesman Patrick Craven said on Friday.
“This illustrates why Cosatu has consistently called for the nationalisation of the mining industry, so that it can be run for the benefit of the workers... and not for the profit of shareholders.”
In January the company said it might have to cut 14,000 jobs as part of a major restructuring.
The mineral resources department intervened when there was a subsequent outcry.
Labour Relations Act section 189 consultations on the retrenchments were then suspended.
In its place the department, the company and unions held talks to find other solutions.
“(Angloplats) expects that the revised proposals have the potential to reduce the number of mining and processing jobs affected to approximately 6000,” it said in a statement.
The company's business review was in response to the demand for platinum, and “challenges” that had eroded profitability.
This was in the aftermath of 44 deaths - 34 of them at the hands of the police - near Lonmin's Marikana platinum operations in Rustenburg during a pay strike in August, and a prolonged industry-wide strike.
Cosatu said it would support the National Union of Mineworkers in whatever action they decided to take to save jobs. - Sapa