Sibanye-Stillwater to cut about 2 000 jobs
Mining giant Sibanye-Stillwater has kicked off a section 189 process which could see about 2 000 jobs being axed.
Sibanye-Stillwater has embarked on a restricting process at their Beatrix 4 shaft in Virginia, Free State, and Kloof 1 plant in West Rand, Gauteng.
A host of reasons are behind the decision to institute a section 189A process in terms of the Labour Relations Act including the ripple effects of load shedding.
The process is not new to Sibanye-Stillwater following similar consultations in 2017 at the Beatrix 4 shaft which resulted in operations being extended.
The mining giant’s James Wellsted says approximately 2 000 workers and 500 contractors are expected to be affected by the cost-saving process.
"It is anticipated that the consultation process will reduce the number of employees that may potentially be retrenched through the implementation of, amongst other things, possible retrenchment avoidance measures, including natural attrition, retirements, voluntary separation, and the transfer of suitably skilled employees to vacant positions."
Wellsted says unions are fully aware of the challenges at the affected operations, adding that they’ve been consulting with unions on a regular basis.
“We have highlighted the risk and the ongoing losses that have been experienced, so it shouldn't come too much of a surprise, we have also been engaging with stakeholders and we will continue now in terms of the Section 189 process to engage for the next 60 days with affected stakeholders to try and find other alternatives to restructure."
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