Cape Town — The Sibanye-Stillwater Mine has announced its latest set of retrenchments, with more than 2 000 employees cut as the mine restructures its gold operations and service functions.
The mine announced that consultations with the relevant stakeholders in the S189 process had concluded as the restructuring and functions previously announced on 11 April 2024. As per the Section 189 (S189) process, more than 3 000 employees and 900 contractors were set to be affected, it said in a statement.
Sibanye-Stillwater said that consultations were held with affected stakeholders and various avoidance measures were taken to mitigate possible retrenchments and minimise job losses.
The mine reported that 1 130 contractors were impacted, 629 employees sought voluntary or early retirement packages, 116 workers either died or retired, 448 accepted transfers, and 111 could not be accommodated, totalling 2 318 cuts.
The mine has reduced its total employees and contractors from 81 500 to 70 000 since the beginning of 2023. Although it is a big reduction, the total number of forced retrenchments was reduced to 966 out of 11 500.
“We have restructured the SA region to align with the reduced operating footprint following the necessary operational restructuring for greater regional sustainability and profitability and we are well positioned for ongoing shared value delivery,” said Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman.
Sibanye Stillwater went on an aggressive acquisition spree which saw them become the biggest PGM producer itw, only for them to aggressively retrench & downsize after that precious metals bubble burst.
Shareholders ate daarso shem.. I remember the dividend announcements.
— SEATTLE COFFEE JIHADIST (@WHOIS2NGO) July 4, 2024
In response to the retrenchments, labour unions have lamented the job losses as engagements continue to curb further job losses. The unions are taking issue with the company’s restructuring process that has left many of their members unemployed, SABC News reported.
The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said that unions have managed to convince the mine’s managment to extend the life of mining operations that were set to be shut down. It was in the process of signing an agreement to ensure those affected can be remunerated properly for their years of service.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) said its members have been on the receiving end of the jobs bloodbath at Sibanye, accusing the mine of prioritising profits. He said the capitalistic logic of the mine has disrupted livelihoods of thousands of mineworkers, the report said.
Meanwhile, the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU) said the country’s labour laws must be reviewed in a bid to save jobs. It said section 189 process always favours the employer, leaving workers compromised.
The workers are now pinning their hopes on the country’s political developments to come up with stronger measures to protect existing jobs and create more employment in the sector.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) along with its affiliate, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), is aggrieved that despite extensive consultations, Sibanye Stillwater has cut 2 000 jobs in the latest round of retrenchments. @SAfmRadio @CathyMohlahlana pic.twitter.com/z4YYJC1fIA
— @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) July 4, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
