South Africa's Lonmin Retreats From Threats of Sacking 3,000 Workers

Mark Munroe (L), executive vice president for mining at Lonmin, the world's third-largest platinum mining company, speaks alongside Lonmin chief financial officer Simon Scott during a press conference on August 20, 2012, in Marikana., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

S Africa's Lonmin retreats from threats of sacking 3,000 workers

Tue Aug 21, 2012 11:42AM GMT
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South African mining authorities have retreated from their previous threats of dismissing thousands of their infuriated striking workers.

The Platinum giant Lonmin, which had previously threatened the striking workers of the possibility of losing their jobs if they did not return to their work, has seemingly backed off from its previous statements and has announced that firing thousands of workers would not help to solve the crisis.

In a statement, top Lonmin official, Mark Munroe has conceded that giving an ultimatum to the infuriated striking miners to get back to their work would not contribute to a more stable environment.

Earlier this week, the Platinum miner giant had warned almost 3,000 of its striking workers of the possibility of facing dismissal if they did not end their “illegal strike” and go back to their jobs on Tuesday.

The threat, however, worked to some extent when a small number of the workers, fearful of losing their jobs, returned back to their work, but still the majority are defiant.

According to the South African officials, the violence erupted over miners' demands for higher salaries last week after thousands of protesting miners armed with machetes and metal rods gathered at the mine.

At least 30 miners were killed when police opened fire on the crowd of striking workers at the platinum mine in Marikana, northwest of South Africa on Thursday.

The miners, who are currently earning between 4,000 and 5,000 rands ( USD 484 - $605), have demanded that their salary be increased to 12,500 rands (USD 1,512).

Back in January 2012, at least three people were killed in similar incidents of violence which led to a six-week closure of the mine.

Lonmin is reportedly the world's third-largest platinum producer with approximately 28,000 employees.