South African mining sector job cuts deepen

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s mining companies are cutting thousands of jobs as the prices of most metals fall and triggering strike warnings by the country’s powerful unions.

So far about 14 000 mining jobs are on the line, South Africa’s Chamber of Mines has said, but analysts say more than 40 000 of the workers in a sector that employs close to half a million people are likely to lose their jobs.South Africa’s biggest union, the National Union of Mineworkers, has warned it may resort to strikes to prevent job losses. – Nampa-Reuters