27 MARCH 2014AlCircle.com
BHP Billiton’s Bayside Plan will result in job loss: NUMSA
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
1 min read
ON Tuesday, BHP Billiton & National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) met the 2nd time to discuss about the halting of smelting as well as associated services at the company’s Bayside aluminium smelter.
Numsa has said there would be layoffs at KwaZulu-Natal facility that has a total of about 450 employees at present. But the compony did not comment on questions related to expected layoffs. "There is no update on Bayside. There are still ongoing discussions and consultations with all interested parties," BHP Billiton SA’s vice-president of communication and external affairs, Lulu Letlape, said.
However, Stephen Nhlapo, NUMSA’s head of organising & collective bargaining said there is a possibility of closure of 70% of Bayside. This would result in the cut off of 350 jobs, he said.
Some of the employees might have to migrate to Hillside. Both the parties were also in discussion about possible voluntary retirement as well as early retirement.
"We are still starting a process and the numbers are not yet clear," he said. Mr Nhlapo said the union was looking at Billiton’s financial statements and business plan.
Numsa has said there would be layoffs at KwaZulu-Natal facility that has a total of about 450 employees at present. But the compony did not comment on questions related to expected layoffs. "There is no update on Bayside. There are still ongoing discussions and consultations with all interested parties," BHP Billiton SA’s vice-president of communication and external affairs, Lulu Letlape, said.
However, Stephen Nhlapo, NUMSA’s head of organising & collective bargaining said there is a possibility of closure of 70% of Bayside. This would result in the cut off of 350 jobs, he said.
Some of the employees might have to migrate to Hillside. Both the parties were also in discussion about possible voluntary retirement as well as early retirement.
"We are still starting a process and the numbers are not yet clear," he said. Mr Nhlapo said the union was looking at Billiton’s financial statements and business plan.
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