Share

Female miners must wear two-piece - NUM

NUM general secretary Frans Baleni. (Muntu Vilakazi)
NUM general secretary Frans Baleni. (Muntu Vilakazi)

Johannesburg - The mining industry is reluctant to adapt to change, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Tuesday.

"Simple things, such as providing clothing to female workers, is a problem. The industry is used to providing a one-piece overall to male workers... female workers need a two-piece," general secretary Frans Baleni said at a mining lekgotla in Johannesburg.

Baleni said the industry had to adapt to changes and transform if it wants to be competitive.

"Cutting corners in skilling workers is working against being competitive."

Mining companies should ensure that workers were healthy.

"Health is important; it reduces the rate of absenteeism."

The remuneration of workers should take into consideration the risks to which they were exposed.

"It should reflect the danger they are exposed to every time they go underground, the high temperature they face and dusty environment they are exposed to."

The NUM is preparing to go on strike in the gold mines after wage negotiations deadlocked last week.

The union is demanding R7 000 a month for surface workers and R8 000 a month for underground workers.

Gold producers have offered a 6% increase.


We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
19.00
-0.5%
Rand - Pound
23.95
-0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.50
-0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.5%
Platinum
895.30
-0.2%
Palladium
991.47
-1.0%
Gold
2,194.13
-0.0%
Silver
24.44
-0.8%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
67,910
+0.3%
All Share
74,134
+0.3%
Resource 10
56,271
+1.1%
Industrial 25
103,558
+0.3%
Financial 15
16,498
-0.2%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders