Mines unwilling to change with the times: NUM

"Simple things, such as providing clothing to female workers, is a problem. The industry is used to providing a one-piece overall to male workers but female workers need a two-piece garment," general secretary Frans Baleni said at a mining lekgotla in Johannesburg.

Baleni said the industry had to adapt to changes and transform if was to be competitive. "Cutting corners in skilling workers is working against being competitive," he said adding that mining companies should ensure that workers were healthy.

"Health is important; it reduces the rate of absenteeism," he said.

On the question of remuneration of workers, Baleni said that all rates of pay should take into consideration the risks to which miners were exposed.

"It should reflect the danger they are exposed to every time they go underground, the high temperature they face and dusty environment they are exposed to," he said.

The NUM is preparing to go on strike in the gold mining sector after wage negotiations deadlocked last week. The union is demanding R7,000 a month for surface workers and R8,000 a month for underground workers.

Gold producers have offered a six percent rise.

Source: Sapa via I-net Bridge