Former Firestone Diamonds workers at the recently closed BK11 Mine, in Botswana are not happy with the way management handled the closure of the mine.
An unnamed source cited by Mmegi said that the process from notifying workers of the intention to close and the actual closure took only three days.
"On February 14, the mine's London executives briefed local management about the intention to close and on the 18th it was closed," the source was quoted as saying.
"In just three days, the operation was closed. The closure affected the mine's own workers as well as employees of contractors whose contracts were also cancelled."
Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) said only 15 of the 158 workers were left at the diamond mine to conduct care and maintenance operations.
It said retrenched workers' packages only consisted of payment for one month's salary in lieu of notice, severance pay according to days worked, accrued leave and overtime.
Firestone suspended operations at BK11 end of February, citing technical challenges and weak diamond demand.
It said the closure was a temporary measure "designed to enable a rapid re-start of operations when the technical and market challenges have been resolved."
Firestone was now focussing on its flagship Liqhobong Mine, in Lesotho.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished, from Zimbabwe
Exclusive
Vladimir Pilyushin: The jewelry market is not stand-alone and moves by the same laws as other markets
Vladimir Pilyushin is editor-in-chief of Russian Jeweler, a leading magazine about the jewelry industry in Russia. He told Rough&Polished about his view on the evolution of the jewelry industry in Russia and touched upon some of its problems.
16 september 2024
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
11 september 2024
Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever
The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...
02 september 2024
Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company
Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...
19 august 2024
WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges
Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...
12 august 2024
