The 10-point plan to save the mining industry

With the mining industry facing massive job losses in a declining market, mining bosses, labour and
government are expected to sign a ground-breaking deal tomorrow that is likely to save the industry

Job-saving interventions

Interventions to ameliorate
the impact of job losses

Regulatory frameworks and other enablers

JOB

Delay
retrenchments
Agree that all
stakeholders will
not unreasonably
withhold the
extension of the
consultation period
to allow
implementation of
the interventions to
address job losses

Enhance
productivity
Consider
opportunities for
multifactor
productivity,
establish a cost
containment
committee, probe
the possibility of
implementing
integrated shift
systems and speak
to power suppliers
on the management
of electricity to
minimise the
disruption of
production

Accelerated
concurrent
rehabilitation
activities
Align regulations
governing nancial
provisions and
access to
rehabilitation trust
funds, initiate
concurrent
rehabilitation
where possible and
redeploy mine
workers to
rehabilitation
projects

Facilitate sale of
distressed and
other mining
assets
Such mining assets,
which would
otherwise be
closed, have the
potential to save
and even create
jobs in the hands of
alternative
operators. It may
also avoid a
sterilisation of
resources

Other alternatives
to avoid job losses
Explore alternatives
such as a training
lay-off scheme,
extended leave,
early retirements,
reskilling and
transfers between
companies and
industry

Support mine
workers in event
of job losses
If job-saving
mechanisms do not
work, there should
be support through
the deployment of
retrenchment
response teams to
assist with matters
such as UIF,
counselling,
placement in
alternative
employment, and
assistance to help
workers start their
own businesses

Use of
multinational
companies
procurement levy
There is a need to
access the
socioeconomic
development fund
by promoting the
implementation of
labour-intensive
projects that can
employ retrenched
mine workers

Streamlining the
process for
downscaling
Develop proposals
to deal with scaling
down of mining or
those about to effect
retrenchments;
coordinate a single
environmental
system for water,
mining and
environmental
authorisation
processes; and
provide possible
incentives and scal
instruments to those
in distress

Investment
promotion and
market development
Promote the industry
internationally; explore
how the sector can
leverage off the Brics
arrangements such as
the possibility of
central banks holding
platinum as a reserve
asset; explore
possibility of producing
a Mandela platinum
coin (similar to the
Krugerrand); and probe
beneciation of
platinum catalytic
converters

Communication
and
implementation
plan
Handle all
communication in
a responsible and
sensitive manner
where theres a
risk of job losses

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