Lonmin deal not lasting solution, Mps told

[JIMMYtheSKULL]

"If a rock driller has been working for Lonmin for 15 years and is still living in a shack, that's a problem"

I personally feel this is a very valid point. I also believe multi million rand bonuses are BS. There is a team behind one man, no matter how good his idea. If he's done all the work himself, I have no problem in him taking all the spoils. PAY YOUR PEOPLE PROPERLY... moral of the story.

http://www.fin24.com/Companies/Mining/Lonmin-deal-not-lasting-solution-Mps-told-20120919-2

 

[LazyLion]

I agree. But on the other hand, those miners are now earning far more than people in many other sectors of industry.

 

[Zenbaas]

I agree. But on the other hand, those miners are now earning far more than people in many other sectors of industry.

Yeah that's the thing. This is going to have massive knock on effects.

 

[Sinbad]

I agree. But on the other hand, those miners are now earning far more than people in many other sectors of industry.

And other miners. Hier kom groot kak.

 

[Mila]

Why are they still living in a shack?
My first salary was R850. ( this is in the last 12 years) This was without any extras.
I never had to live in a shack and Had no support from my parents.

(no snarkey)
Is there not enough houses?
Is it because housing is not as important if you can live in a shack for free?
Do they live in shacks because they have a house somewhere else?
Does the mine not supply housing?
Wtf. I understand a shack when you are with out a job.
Wth is going on here?
Is this a case of not enough birth control?

In a developing country there will always be minimum / low income wage labour.

 

[JIMMYtheSKULL]

I guess one could say dont have such big families if you cant support them. There is a lot of education that needs to be done still... before this mess gets sorted out.

Mila beat me to it. ^^

Sad fact of life, not everyone can be a boss.

 

[dlk001]

Why are they still living in a shack?
My first salary was R850. ( this is in the last 12 years) This was without any extras.
I never had to live in a shack and Had no support from my parents.

(no snarkey)
Is there not enough houses?
Is it because housing is not as important if you can live in a shack for free?
Do they live in shacks because they have a house somewhere else?
Does the mine not supply housing?
Wtf. I understand a shack when you are with out a job.
Wth is going on here?
Is this a case of not enough birth control?

In a developing country there will always be minimum / low income wage labour.

The mine affords me a lavish house, air conditioned, 4 bedrooms, double garage for R1250pm which is crazy considering the high salary I earn. Some lower level miners are renting a room in a township for R800pm. Most miners live at an informal settlement.

Just last week, we had a health inspector who was appauled by the conditions of change rooms for workers. She gaves us a safety stoppage. It is embarrasing when you consider that most of professionals in the mine are afforded the best facilities.

During my mining consultancy, I travelled to all mining regions in SA. Many times I see huge contrasts between higher level employees vs lower level with respect to living conditions.

When I used to visit gold mines, I would shower at a change house where I'm served coffee, somebody cleans my gumboots, showers are clean, tiled, good water flow. Change house where miners shower looked like a jail....That legacy takes years to change.

 

[CR34M3]

Why are they still living in a shack?
My first salary was R850. ( this is in the last 12 years) This was without any extras.
I never had to live in a shack and Had no support from my parents.

(no snarkey)
Is there not enough houses?
Is it because housing is not as important if you can live in a shack for free?
Do they live in shacks because they have a house somewhere else?
Does the mine not supply housing?
Wtf. I understand a shack when you are with out a job.
Wth is going on here?
Is this a case of not enough birth control?

In a developing country there will always be minimum / low income wage labour.

Here's the sad truth: many people CHOOSE to live in shacks.

First off, shacks are usually not free, but obviously much cheaper to rent than proper accommodation. The money saved by staying in a shack is then sent back to the miners' families (wherever they might be). The mines provide hostels, but many opt not to stay in them in order to get the so-called "living out" allowance. This is also part of the reason why there was a big drive to get a higher living out allowance.

 

[Sinbad]

The mine affords me a lavish house, air conditioned, 4 bedrooms, double garage for R1250pm which is crazy considering the high salary I earn.

In the meantime, workers live in an informal settlement.

Just last week, we had a health inspector who was appauled by the conditions of change rooms for workers. It is embarrasing when you consider that most of professionals in the mine are afforded the best facilities.

During my mining consultancy, I travelled to all mining regions in SA. Many times I see huge contrasts between higher level employees vs lower level with respect to living conditions.

Question: how do the change rooms get into that state in the first place?
Answer: no respect for other people's property.

 

[dlk001]

Question: how do the change rooms get into that state in the first place?
Answer: no respect for other people's property.

Because management does not care. They never been to see the change room until the day inspector gives a Section 55 stoppage. And many times, the issues are reported to management by the workers.

The other problem is when the mine affords certain group of employees good privileges, we sometimes take things for granted and assume everyone is proportional afforded the same.

 

[Mila]

The mine affords me a lavish house, air conditioned, 4 bedrooms, double garage for R1250pm which is crazy considering the high salary I earn. Some lower level miners are renting a room in a township for R800pm. Most miners live at an informal settlement.

Just last week, we had a health inspector who was appauled by the conditions of change rooms for workers. She gaves us a safety stoppage. It is embarrasing when you consider that most of professionals in the mine are afforded the best facilities.

During my mining consultancy, I travelled to all mining regions in SA. Many times I see huge contrasts between higher level employees vs lower level with respect to living conditions.

When I used to visit gold mines, I would shower at a change house where I'm served coffee, somebody cleans my gumboots, showers are clean, tiled, good water flow. Change house where miners shower looked like a jail....That legacy takes years to change.

Oke.
Sad. On the one hand the mine can say we do not give housing to people that will not look after it , and on the other hand you have people that rather live in a informal house than fork out extra money to live in a house.

Evil circle. The mine is not going to start giving houses when the people do not show that they want to look after things.

Do you get a house that is looked after and serviced by the municipality? Or the mine. We lived on a mine and they stopped giving houses and building because their sewage works and water plant was getting to small and it did not make sense to upgrade the facilities.

I think it is way more complicated than saying its unacceptable for a rock driller to still be living in a shack after 15 years.
We all know the strikes of the last few years, these people were not living in a minimum wage for 15 years.
They can not blame the mine for all the choices They made with their money. If they were slave laborers and have been receiving no increases for the last 15 years then maybe yes.

 

[dlk001]

The mine is not going to start giving houses when the people do not show that they want to look after things.

I think if a mine cannot afford miners descent working conditions like installing proper facilities at change rooms, then that mind-set will also apply in terms of accommodation.

We work in the hottest part of SA and I have a fridge with mineral water. However, the miners who are mostly in the sun do not have same facilities. Other day I had a running stomach and needed a toilet while onsite. Guess what, it wasnt working ...You can imagine the pain I endured driving back to the office toilet.

It is small thing like that which bother me because it is the responsibility of the Production Manager to make sure that when a toilet is reported as broken, its fixed.

Do you get a house that is looked after and serviced by the municipality? Or the mine. We lived on a mine and they stopped giving houses and building because their sewage works and water plant was getting to small and it did not make sense to upgrade the facilities.

HR has a person who manages my house. The person will appoint people to look after the house and do maintenance.

Some people choose to buy their own houses and mine provides housing allowance.

They can not blame the mine for all the choices They made with their money. If they were slave laborers and have been receiving no increases for the last 15 years then maybe yes..

1. It is the responsibility of the mine management to offer workers appropriate working/living conditions as they do for higher level employees
2. It is the responsibility of the workers to look after facilities

You are right to say the issues in mining are complex and tend to be site/company specific. What happens at Lonmin will differ to an AngloPlatinum mine nearby because the culture is not the same.

Even within AngloAmerican in SA, you have totally different cultures between AngloPlatinum, AngloCoal, Kumba Iron Ore with respect to company - worker relations.

 

[Sneeky]

and in other news, Zimbabwe just approved a 7.5% increase for their miners, they will earn the equivalent of under R2000 / pm.

Zimbabwe’s National Employment Council for the Mining Industry, comprising the Mineworkers Union of Zimbabwe and the Chamber of Mines, has agreed to a 7.5 percent wage increase for most miners.

The minimum wage for gold miners will rise to $197.53 a month, up from $183.75. Diamond and platinum mine workers will see their pay climb to $212.21 from $197.40, according to a document handed to reporters by the chamber.

Go figure, terrible SA mining companies exploiting their workers
http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...-agrees-minimum-7-dot-5-percent-wage-increase