The BBCÂ is reporting that Anglo American Platinum, the world’s largest platinum producer, fired 12,000 miners on Friday who were striking over wages. The wave of strikes has instigated pressure on President Jacob Zuma and turmoil between police and protestors. A reported thirty-four miners were killed by police in August over mining strikes. In addition to Amplats, other South African mining firms, like GoldFields, are also facing wage strikes.
According to The BBC:
“Explaining its decision on Friday, Amplats said the miners had failed to attend disciplinary hearings and had therefore been dismissed.
Attendance levels of less than 20% meant four of the company’s mining operations in Rustenburg could not operate properly.
Employees would learn the outcome of disciplinary hearings later on Friday, and would have three days to appeal over their outcome, said the company.
“Approximately 12,000 striking employees chose not to make representations, nor attend the hearings, and have therefore been dismissed in their absence,” it added.
Amplats’ chief executive Chris Griffith said the company was still committed to participating in centralised engagement structures driven by the chamber of mines, “as well as exploring the possibility of bringing forward wage negotiations within our current agreements”.”
Read more about this story on The BBC.
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