Impala Platinum (Implats) has agreed to revoke the suspension notices that were previously issued to 38 employees who participated in an underground sit-in at the Bafokeng North and South shafts in South Africa last month.
These employees were deemed to have represented the workforce during the incident.
Implats re-evaluated its position in response to the concerns raised by the regional branch of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
The miner has asked the employees to provide specific representations in support of or in mitigation of their conduct, according to Mining Weekly.
NUM said Implats committed to revisiting and re-engaging the union on all concerns addressed in the workers' demands once the situation has stabilised.
“We remain open to constructive engagement but hold firm that this can only be successfully conducted in an environment where statutory safety and labour requirements are upheld,” Implats said.
Meanwhile, the NUM has issued a demand for the resumption of work by all of its members.
On December 18, Implats reported an unlawful sit-it at Bafokeng Rasimone.
The incident was attributed to misunderstandings that were exposed due to the change of ownership at Impala Bafokeng.
This encompassed apprehensions regarding the conversion of the historical employee profit-sharing arrangement to an employee share ownership trust, at the employees' discretion, in addition to uncertainties regarding the capacity to distribute accumulated pension fund balances.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
