Trade union federation Cosatu said that it was alarmed by the news that Anglogold Ashanti has submitted a 189 notice detailing its intentions to retrench 8 500 workers.
Cosatu said in a statement on Frida that this decision validates the call by the federation for a Job Summit and Jobs plan to deal with the issue of the ongoing retrenchments.
Cosatu spokesperson, Siwe Pamla,said “this matter cannot be left at the hands of the workers and employers at a shop floor. It has now reached a crisis situation.”
“Hopefully the ANC Policy Conference can address the issue of retrenchments and job creation, particularly in the mining sector,” Pamla said.
He said Cosatu also wanted the policy conference to deal with the policy of controlling and putting strategic commodities such as gold, platinum and steel under government control.
Pamla said that this strategic nationalisation will go a long way in addressing the problems engulfing the mining sector, including unemployment.
Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane met the CEO of AngloGold Ashanti and his executives, on Friday.
Today's visit follows yesterday's announcement by the mining giant that it plans to retrench more than 8,000 workers.
Zwane's office said that he had instructed the Minerals and Petroleum Board to verify the information provided by the company.
This is to ensure that the company take commitments made in the Stakeholder Declaration signed by industry stakeholders to save jobs, into account.
Zwane reminded mining companies to act responsibly and with sensitivity, noting that people's livelyhoods are at stake.
