Miningmx reports that Sibanye-Stillwater is to retrench 852 full time employees and contractors at its South African platinum group metals (PGM) mines, it announced on Friday. This follows the conclusion of Section 189 negotiations held in terms of the Labour Relations Act with unions and other affected parties. Sibanye-Stillwater said in October up to 4,905 employees were potentially affected by restructuring in the face of steep PGM price declines. Sibanye-Stillwater said it would close its mined out Simunye shaft while the Rowland and Siphumelele shafts at Marikana section have been “repositioned”. All in all 47 full time employees and 805 contractors will be retrenched with a further 1,281 employees granted voluntary separation or early retirement packages.

Natural attrition between the start of Section 189 negotiations and today’s announcement accounted for 467 less retrenched employees. A total of 351 employees accepted transfers to other shafts to fill these vacancies. Other retrenchments could follow as the miner agreed to keep a marginal shaft, known as 4B, open provided there were no net losses on a monthly basis. This shaft, which is also part of Sibanye-Stillwater’s Marikana operations, has 1,496 employees and 54 contractors. “Should this not be sustained and subject to certain conditions the shaft will be closed,” said Sibanye-Stillwater.

by David McKay