JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Chamber of Mines (CoM) supports the premise of the World Day for Decent Work observed by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and its affiliates on Wednesday.
The chamber said in a statement that decent work was nonnegotiable, despite challenges facing the mining sector, amid difficult economic times.
“We are committed to ensuring that all employees in the mining sector are in a position where they do not simply have work, but decent work. Abusive and exploitative practices have no place in the mining sector and the process of modernisation that our industry has embarked on has started to deliver more highly skilled and better-paid jobs,” the chamber added.
It highlighted that it was engaging directly and on an ongoing basis with unions and with the regulatory authorities on day-to-day aspects of mining work, from health and safety to skills development, including ensuring that employees retire with dignity.
“We share a concern with all stakeholders in respect of the loss of jobs in the mining sector. We are currently working with our Mining Industry Growth Development and Employment Task Team social partners to explore measures that will ameliorate the negative impact of potential job losses in the sector,” the CoM stated.
The global mining industry was facing significant challenges including low commodity prices and high costs.
“Under these circumstances, the industry and its stakeholders need to work together to ensure the sustainability of the sector.
“Mining has the ability to make a positive impact in some of the most remote and poorest areas in Southern Africa. While jobs in the mining sector decreased by around 3% over the past three years, over the past decade, employment in this sector has actually grown by 10%. Together, we have the ability to reverse the negative trend,” the chamber averred.