Mining industry says it has made big strides in improving workers’ lives

Mining companies have made significant strides in their contribution to improving the lives of their employees‚ their families‚ communities living around mines‚ and the wider population‚ the Chamber of Mines says.

It added that this was in addition to the crucial contribution that the industry had made to the South African economy. Much of the country’s economic infrastructure was based on the mining sector‚ the industry’s supply chain and the beneficiation of minerals mined.

Well considered policies would no doubt enhance value-addition of the entire mining value chain in our economy‚ it added.

The chamber was responding to a memorandum received from the Economic Freedom Front (EFF)‚ whose imputs it said it welcomed‚ adding that the mining industry played a key role in South Africa’s economy and as such had a wider contribution to make.

“Our doors are always open for direct and constructive engagement with the EFF’s leadership on the issues they have raised‚” it added.

It said it welcomed the opportunity to engage with all sectors of society that were engaging on the debates about the place of mining in South Africa’s future.

“There may sometimes be areas of disagreement‚ but we do believe that engagement on the basis of problem-solving with interested parties‚ and negotiation with parties with direct interests‚ such as trade unions‚ is the best basis for progress for our industry and our country‚” the chamber stated.

The chamber addressed numerous issues in its lengthy response to the EFF‚ which included job losses and safety issues.

It acknowledged that the impact of job losses resulting from the commodities downturn was serious – for employees‚ communities and the country as a whole.

“The Chamber has and will continue to participate fully in various processes‚ including the MIGDETT‚ in seeking to address this and other issues. The Chamber is a signatory to the recent Leaders’ Declaration: Mining industry commitment to save jobs and ameliorate the impact of job losses.

“We are also fully supportive of the Presidential Framework Agreement process that is addressing the negative impacts of the migrant labour system and is focused on creating sustainable mining communities. Critical to all of these discussions is the recognition of the need for a thriving‚ sustainable mining industry that is able to deliver benefits to all those involved‚” it stated.

The chamber also said it was aware that the industry’s safety performance must continue to improve.

“Over the past two decades the industry’s fatality rate has declined by 87% through concerted collaborative work between government‚ mining companies and trade unions.

While the significant improvement in our industry’s safety performance is gratifying‚ we know we cannot rest until every employee leaves work safe and healthy every day.

And where we fail in that duty‚ employees and their families are entitled to care and fair compensation‚” it said.

It added: “In acknowledgement of the negative aspects of the mining sector’s role in South Africa’s history‚ the Chamber of Mines and its members have‚ since 1994‚ made concerted efforts to repair and compensate for damage done as far as is practically possible.

“We know that this is necessary both to sustain and grow the industry and to make good for the effects of historical discrimination and inequality. This is a process that continues.”

TMG Digital.