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Less demand for outsourced labour

SUITABLE SOURCE It is ideal to outsource staffing requirements to a compliant provider that will manage fixed-term contracts and ensure compliance with Mining Charter III

CONSTRUCTION CURTAILED The reopening of South Africa’s mines has been staggered and construction projects have been delayed to focus on production

17th July 2020

By: Tracy Hancock

Creamer Media Contributing Editor

     

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There has been a sharp decline in demand for labour for mining-related construction projects amid the Covid-19 outbreak, with some projects on hold, as mines focus on their core business.

This is according to technical recruitment company Oxyon director Pierre Bekker, who tells Mining Weekly that the pandemic has negatively impacted on the mining industry’s demand for labour services for construction projects, especially during Level 5 of the lockdown.

Since the introduction of Level 4 in May, the reopening of South Africa’s mines has been staggered and construction has been delayed, with emphasis on restarting production and generating income.

As mining sites started to reopen, with all permitted to operate at 100% capacity in Level 3, many labourers have crossed borders to continue work on projects but have, subsequently, been quarantined for two weeks in accordance with government regulations.

“Until they work, we aren’t earning money,” says Bekker.

Meanwhile, according to Minerals Council South Africa, the mining sector has recorded 1 796 positive cases, 666 recoveries and six Covid-19-related deaths as of June 25 this year.

While injuries and lost time are a reality at mines, Oxyon says its hands-on approach largely reduces the possibility of the latter.

“Companies cannot afford to lose working hours, owing to potential human resource-related issues.”

On construction projects, reducing lost time is critical to completing projects on schedule, Bekker emphasises, adding that Oxyon can provide temporary replacements to limit the impact on productivity.

However, there are delays when a person falls ill in the current operating environment, as the Covid-19 quarantine process also applies to replacements who have crossed borders.

“Before the outbreak, replacements could start work as soon as they had completed the induction process,” adds Bekker.

Consequently, Oxyon continues to discuss how best to limit the impact of Covid-19 disruptions on projects with clients, as having to deal with a pandemic of this nature is new to both parties.

He highlights that having a surplus of workers on site is not feasible if there is no guarantee of work.

“In an attempt to mitigate the quarantine process, we are trying to source labour from the provinces in which projects are located to prevent cross-province migration.”

Oxyon is providing labour to coal projects in Limpopo and manganese mines in the Northern Cape.

The main skills in demand comprise all the artisan disciplines, such as boilermakers, pipefitters, welders and mechanical fitters, as well as planners, drivers, crane operators, and safety-related positions in the disciplines.

“Our talent pool ranges from project managers to unskilled labour,” notes Bekker.

Covid-19 has required supervisors to undertake further health and safety-related training, which involves an induction process to ensure that they understand the legal requirements relating to the outbreak.

This is in addition to Oxyon appointing a Covid-19-dedicated employee to assist with and record compliance with the required regulations.

“We are also working more closely with our health and safety advisers as a result,” says Bekker.

Right From the Start

Bekker explains it is vital that the correct qualified person is on site from the start of a project to prevent unnecessary delays.

“Customers normally do not have the time to source, short-list and interview possible candidates. Oxyon has a database of candidates with whom we have experience. Thus, we can appoint the correct person for a project from the start.”

Oxyon understands the possible bureaucracy when working on mines and has the expertise to ensure compliance and avoid any startup delays, he says.

Projects on mines have definite durations and, as a result, it is ideal to outsource staffing requirements to a compliant provider that will manage fixed-term contracts and ensure compliance with Mining Charter III to prevent the loss of mining rights or the opportunity to apply for their renewal.

Contractors are also required to adhere to a mine’s industrial relation standards, which could be time-consuming to execute.

“Oxyon can align processes to com- ply with a mine’s requirements, as this is one of our core functions,” states Bekker.

Mines may also require con-[ tractors to adhere to labour agreements.

As part of diversified services company Workforce Holdings, Oxyon generally has access to mining-specific accredited training providers.

“We can offer training courses to our employees for the duration of a contract, upskilling labour as part of corporate social responsibility,” says Bekker.

In addition, Oxyon’s legal department offers a quick turnaround when assisting with applications and notices on behalf of clients.

“With 20 years of experience, Oxyon is also an expert in processing payrolls accurately and on time,” says Bekker.

He emphasises that this is paramount to maintaining a productive relationship with employees in the mining sector.

“We have regular meetings with our employees in which we open transparent dialogues and pride ourselves on our turnaround time in resolving queries.

“We also manage the full injury-on-duty process for our employees and provide clients with a complete report,” says Bekker.

This is in addition to compiling and submitting labour reports on behalf of clients in specified formats, thereby assisting with their compliance.

Edited by Nadine James
Features Deputy Editor

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