Amplats expects 85% fewer job losses

Johannesburg - Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) [JSE:AMS] reduced the number of job cuts tied to restructuring at two South African operations by 85% as the biggest producer of the metal moves workers to other projects.

Less than 300 affected at the Union mine and Twickenham growth project are now expected to lose their jobs, Mpumi Sithole, a spokesperson for Amplats, said by email. As part of a consultation required by law, the company agreed with unions and employees on measures to limit losses, including redeployment, she said.

The mining company in February said as many as 2 000 could be made redundant as it embarked on at least a third round of job cuts in as many years to weather a slump in metal prices. Almost 30 000 mining jobs at more than 36 companies in South Africa are at risk, the Solidarity union said in April. Amplats reduced its employees to 43 349 at the end of last year from more than 56 000 in 2012.

About 235 workers have been redeployed from the Twickenham project to the Amandelbult complex about 500 kilometres away, Sithole said. Amplats is idling the Twickenham operation to help keep the Union mine profitable, it said in February.

"The company has made provision for accommodation for the short-term and we have set up a task team to explore housing options for the medium to long term," Sithole said.