Moolman to axe jobs at Tati Mine
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday June 24, 2014 17:38
The Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) secretary general Bob Malele told Mmegi Business last Friday that even though the talks between them and the company are not yet completed, they were informed that some employees would be retrenched very soon.
Malele said the union and management would hold a meeting on June 20, 2014 with expectations that the employees and the departments to be affected by the looming retrenchment will be disclosed.
“We are concerned about that action because the company did not make us aware of the retrenchment before taking the decision. We are not sure how many employees and in which departments, are going to be affected because the talks between us are still ongoing.
“We are disappointed and concerned about the retrenchment. We are talking about people’s future. Losing a job is not a simple thing to think of. These people have families to take care of, “ he said.
Malele said the company has informed the union that there were no more jobs at the mine and the pit where they have been excavating ore has sharply narrowed and deepened, thus risky for people and machinery.
Moolman, whose current workforce is around 500, is currently engaged in contract mining for Tati Nickel Mine.
Malele said the company told them that most of the employees at the moment spend their days idling with nothing to do anymore.
What worries the union most is that their members are caught unawares.
“We suspect that the mine has been aware of this for a long time and they could have at least informed employees about the bleak future the company was facing so that they could be better prepared. It is wrong. It is uncalled for punishment on the employees,” said Malele.
While Moolman could not be reached for comment as their phones rang unanswered, Mmegi Business is in possession of a letter from the company’s human resources manager, Donald Matlhodi to BMWU.
In the correspondence the company said there was no ulterior motive in issuing letters notifying employees of the impending retrenchment. “The sole objective was to be in compliance with the law, which to our understanding requires that all stakeholders have to be informed forthwith as soon as an intention to retrench is formed,” reads the letter in part.