NUM: Retrenchments political

“Our view is that the job loses are political. You would remember that most general elections in the country are preceded by retrenchments, and it is a huge number of retrenchments,” NUM president Piet Matosa told journalists at a briefing in Johannesburg.

“We have to fight this political battle,” he said.

He added that companies entered into agreements with unions to halt retrenchments and find other alternatives, only to later issue Section 189 notices to unions.

“We entered into agreements with a particular company, and before the ink even dried up, we received notices to retrench,” said Matosa.

“If the retrenchments are not political, then why sign agreements but turn around and do the opposite? These retrenchments happen in spite of commitments to work together to prevent job loses.”

Several mining and steel companies had issued unions with Section 189 notices, which regulated retrenchments in terms of the Labour Relations Act, in the past several weeks.

Last month, government met with industry bosses and unions in efforts to mitigate the crisis.

Government agreed to implement the 10 percent import tariff on steel, which was also signed off last month.

Former mineral resources minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi called a meeting with mining industry bosses last month in an attempt to find a solution to the expected job cuts in the sector which was brought on by falling commodity prices.

The parties came up with a plan to mitigate the job loses and further develop the industry.

Ramatlhodi has since been replaced by former Free State Agriculture MEC Mosebenzi Zwane. President Zuma appointed Ramatlhodi as Minister of Public Service and Administration last week.

The public service portfolio was vacant following the death of minister Collins Chabane in a vehicle accident in March.

The union noted the appointment of Zwane and said they expected him to convene a meeting with all stakeholders in the sector.

ANA

File photo: Gallo Images