Amplats will intensify its consultation processes before it implements its business review proposals, Amplats Chief Executive Officer, Chris Griffiths assured the North West Provincial Government delegation led by Premier Thandi Modise on Thursday afternoon.
The commitment made at the bilateral meeting held in Rustenburg was in response to a concern raised by Premier Modise regarding the impact the proposed restructuring might have on employees, their dependants, Rustenburg as a mining area, labour sending areas and the economy.
“Everything should be done to avoid job losses and where these are unavoidable, their impact should be mitigated through a comprehensive social plan that is informed by inputs from government, trade unions, traditional leaders, local government and affected communities,” the Premier emphasised in welcoming the pledge.
Modise and her delegation that included Acting MEC for Economic Development, Conservation and Tourism, Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi had raised their disquiet about possible 14 000 job losses with the Amplats CEO and Executive Head of Corporate Affairs, Mary-Jane Morifi.
As announced by the company on Tuesday, Amplats proposes to put four unsustainable, high-cost shafts, namely Khuseleka 1 and 2 and Khomanani 1 and 2 on long-term care and maintenance.
Griffiths clarified that in addition to redeployment of 9 000 workers that might be affected by the restructuring process to other Anglo American operations where vacancies exist, his company is targeting to create at least 14 000 replacement jobs to balance the number of jobs that may be affected by the proposed restructuring.
He said that his company intends re-skilling its employees with portable skills such as brick laying for participation in an informal settlement eradication housing development anchor project for construction of 15 000 housing units . Amplats proposes to contribute R300 million towards the project.
Other projects that the company proposes to discuss with employees and their representatives during the statutory consultation process includes up-skilling of employees in portable mining skills, small business creation, beneficiation and broader community development initiatives in Rustenburg and other labour sending areas.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
