20 JANUARY 2014AlCircle.com
BHP Billiton plans to close down their aluminium smelter in South Africa
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
On Friday, BHP Billiton, the Global mining group said it had already been in talks with its employees about possibly closing their operation at the Bayside aluminium smelter located in South Africa. This company move would result in downsizing of 450 employees.
The company said the operation "has been under significant and ongoing financial pressure" and that "BHP Billiton today began a formal consultation with employees in its Aluminium South Africa business on a proposal to cease smelting activities and associated services at Bayside."
BHP is currently in talks with the two unions – Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) about this proposed closure that would result in downsizing. Lay-offs are a delicate issue in the country. Mining companies like Anglo American Platinum have been criticised a lot by the government as well as the ruling ANC over their proposed lay-offs.
South Africa’s biggest metalworkers union, NUMSA has always been in news for its uncompromising attitude as well as militancy. It is currently said to be in conversation with its employers. NUMSA or Solidarity’s officials were not available for comment.
The company said the operation "has been under significant and ongoing financial pressure" and that "BHP Billiton today began a formal consultation with employees in its Aluminium South Africa business on a proposal to cease smelting activities and associated services at Bayside."
BHP is currently in talks with the two unions – Solidarity and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) about this proposed closure that would result in downsizing. Lay-offs are a delicate issue in the country. Mining companies like Anglo American Platinum have been criticised a lot by the government as well as the ruling ANC over their proposed lay-offs.
South Africa’s biggest metalworkers union, NUMSA has always been in news for its uncompromising attitude as well as militancy. It is currently said to be in conversation with its employers. NUMSA or Solidarity’s officials were not available for comment.
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