JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified major Glencore has placed its Eland platinum mine, near Brits, in North West province, on care and maintenance.
Glencore South Africa spokesperson Gugulethu Maqetuka told Mining Weekly Online that about 818 employees would be retrenched, following the completion of a Section 189 consultation with recognised unions.
The mine employed about 920 people and would retain 21 employees to oversee key operations during the care-and-maintenance phase.
Meanwhile, Glencore highlighted that 60 employees had been redeployed to other operations.
The consultation process, which was facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, followed a decision to review operations at Eland owing to ongoing poor market conditions in the platinum sector and difficult operational conditions at the mine.
Glencore said it had ensured that employee engagement was conducted in line with applicable labour legislation and that support services had been put in place to assist the affected employees.