Cape Town - The strike on the platinum belt is over. But this is no time for complacency, says Terry Bell in his Labour Wrap this week.
Because, unless some innovative thinking, followed by radical action is undertaken, we could be heading not only for further crises, but for a social catastrophe. And the responsibility for this does not lie with the miners or their union.
Bell points out that the global economic crisis continues and that this, along with the major use of platinum as an auto catalyst, has put pressure on platinum prices and demand.
This, in turn may lead to large scale retrenchments of miners who, on average, are estimated to support up to ten dependents, mainly in the rural areas.
Once again, Bell says, it is the poor who will suffer - and they will flock to towns and cities where infrastructure is already inadequate and jobs unavailable.
- Fin24
Do you have questions for Terry or anything labour-related you'd like him to cover in his next labour wrap? Drop us an email.
* Terry Bell is a political, economic and labour analyst. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.
Because, unless some innovative thinking, followed by radical action is undertaken, we could be heading not only for further crises, but for a social catastrophe. And the responsibility for this does not lie with the miners or their union.
Bell points out that the global economic crisis continues and that this, along with the major use of platinum as an auto catalyst, has put pressure on platinum prices and demand.
This, in turn may lead to large scale retrenchments of miners who, on average, are estimated to support up to ten dependents, mainly in the rural areas.
Once again, Bell says, it is the poor who will suffer - and they will flock to towns and cities where infrastructure is already inadequate and jobs unavailable.
- Fin24
Do you have questions for Terry or anything labour-related you'd like him to cover in his next labour wrap? Drop us an email.
* Terry Bell is a political, economic and labour analyst. Views expressed are his own. Follow him on twitter @telbelsa.