Fears Grow for Significant Job Losses in S. African Mining Sector

(IDEX Online News) – South Africa’s Mineral Resources Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi is very concerned about impending job losses in the country’s mining sector. In an attempt to stave off significant cuts, he reminded mine right-holders to comply with the law if they decide they have no option but to downscale.

"The key mandate of the [mining industry growth and development task] team is to explore ways and means of saving jobs through engagements with relevant mining stakeholders. In addition‚ the Coal and Platinum Working Committee is also looking at the specific issues including long term sustainability of the two sectors," said a statement on behalf of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR), according to a report in Business Day Live.

The minister has indicated that all mining companies are expected to implement social and labor plans, which are intended to facilitate communication between unions and mining companies in the mineral resources sector.

"Minister Ramatlhodi emphasizes also that mining companies should develop a plan for portable skills training to ensure that mineworkers are equipped with necessary skills that can be utilized outside of mine employment should job losses become an eventuality‚" the DMR statement said.

Thibedi Ramontja, director general of the Department of Mineral Resources said that although he was aware of the “cyclical nature of mining” he too wanted to ensure that mining companies obeyed the law when it came to probable job losses.