NUM condemns ArcelorMittal retrenchment plans

Press Statement, 17 January 2025

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) strongly condemns the plans to retrench about 2 220 employees in various operations between Newcastle (KwaZulu-Natal) and Vanderbijlpark, Vereeninging (Gauteng). These plans will have a disastrous effect not only on the ArcelorMittal workers but the value chain of the sector that relies on its operations.

In our recent meeting with members, we identified several alternatives to avoid the catastrophe proposed by ArcelorMittal. Workers in ArcelorMittal have been subjected to these retrenchments in the past few years.

We are calling on the Government to intervene to save the workers' jobs and the industry as a whole. The government should move quickly to address logistics problems, energy costs, and import duties.

We further call on the company to engage on the offer/s by other investors with a condition that workers' jobs will not be lost. The government shall also explore ownership in ArcelorMittal because the company is key in the localization of raw materials and manufacturing.

We welcome the recent proactive meeting initiated by the Department of Employment and Labour, we hope it will ensure that employment is saved in ArcelorMittal.

For more detailed information, please contact:

Mawonga Madolo, NUM Metal Sector Coordinator, 064 890 0474

The National Union of Mineworkers
7 Rissik Street.
Cnr Frederick Johannesburg
Tel: 011 377 2111 Cell: 083 809 3257
Twitter: @Num_Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NUM/10086002340216