Axe looms over Moolman miners

OARABILE MOSIKARE
Correspondent | Wednesday January 21, 2009 00:00

 

The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) secretary general, Jack Tlhagale, has confirmed this development saying yesterday that the management briefed them last week Thursday about the impending retrenchment. Apparently, the TNMC had asked Moolman Mining to downsize their workforce.

Tlhagale said the union was told that Moolman was still sorting out sections that will be affected. He said the employer has not disclosed the number of employees who will be affected.

'We are still in the dark about the numbers. The Moolman Mining management has promised to give that information at the next meeting,' revealed Tlhagale, also uncertain about the date of the briefing.

Tlhagale pointed out that Moolman Mining has around 400 employees, but he could not tell how many were likely to join the ranks of the unemployed. Already some of the workers have been issued with letters informing them about this decision.

Contacted for comment the Human Resource Manager at Moolman Mining, Donald Mahlodi, declined to comment. Senior contract manager, Sean Sterling, was locked in a meeting with his superiors from South Africa.

He said it was a routine meeting, which takes place every month at this time. The mining industry is a key contributor to Botswana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Botswana is one of the world's leading producers of minerals such as diamonds, cooper and nickel, and coal amongst others. According to press reports, nickel prices have weakened by around 50 percent and copper by around 40 percent.