Africa-Press – Namibia. THE jobs of seven miners at the B2Gold Otjikoto mine hang in the balance after they were identified as ringleaders in action that led to the suspension of 167 workers.
THE jobs of seven miners at the B2Gold Otjikoto mine hang in the balance after they were identified as ringleaders in action that led to the suspension of 167 workers.
More than 160 B2Gold employees were suspended last week when they refused to work after 17h00, claiming the company did not have the required permit to operate beyond that time.
The chairperson of the Canadian mining company, Leake Hangala, on Tuesday morning told the media that the seven employees are ringleaders of the alleged insubordination.
“There is also a process. There must be a very open and transparent process and that process will determine how many, but they will not be more than seven,” Hangala said. The workers have previously said that their actions were well within the limits of the Labour Act.
Hangala blamed the suspension on the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) for misleading their members, saying they were swayed on the reinstatement before they admitted guilt.
“We are doing it because the employees and their leadership (MUN) came to us saying ‘we made a mistake’.
“The union acknowledged that their members should have followed our internal grievance and dispute mechanisms available to them before embarking on the unsanctioned work stoppage,” he said.
Hangala said the union leaders apologised for the behaviour of their members, and further requested that the company reconsider lifting the suspensions.
However, MUN secretary general Ebben Zarondo told The Namibian yesterday that they disagree with Hangala’s statement.
“I will disagree with him but will respond structurally to those allegations tomorrow,” he said.
Hangala said labour minister Utoni Nujoma implored B2Gold to consider lifting the suspensions and imposing a different sanction during their numerous meetings.
“During the meeting between the company and the MUN, the union acknowledged that their members should have followed the internal grievance and dispute mechanisms available to them before embarking on an unsanctioned work stoppage,” Hangala said.
The miners returned to their duty stations on Friday.
Moreover, the company indicated that they will stop the temporary recruitment process to replace the suspended employees.
“We recruited some people to work when they were on suspension temporarily and that will be ceased,” he said.
Hangala denied submitting the wrong documentation for B2Gold’s application for a continuous operations permit.
The last week said B2Gold did not submit the correct required documentation, which delayed the processing of their permit.
“Yes, the ministry said that, and we respect them, but as far as we are concerned, we have done what we had to procedurally and on time.
“I don’t want to discuss it here. We have a number of people involved in this, but this is not an issue now,” Hangala said.
More than 160 B2Gold employees were suspended last week when they refused to work after 17h00, claiming the company did not have the required permit to operate beyond that time.
The chairperson of the Canadian mining company, Leake Hangala, on Tuesday morning told the media that the seven employees are ringleaders of the alleged insubordination.
“There is also a process. There must be a very open and transparent process and that process will determine how many, but they will not be more than seven,” Hangala said. The workers have previously said that their actions were well within the limits of the Labour Act.
Hangala blamed the suspension on the Mineworkers Union of Namibia (MUN) for misleading their members, saying they were swayed on the reinstatement before they admitted guilt.
“We are doing it because the employees and their leadership (MUN) came to us saying ‘we made a mistake’.
“The union acknowledged that their members should have followed our internal grievance and dispute mechanisms available to them before embarking on the unsanctioned work stoppage,” he said.
Hangala said the union leaders apologised for the behaviour of their members, and further requested that the company reconsider lifting the suspensions.
However, MUN secretary general Ebben Zarondo told The Namibian yesterday that they disagree with Hangala’s statement.
“I will disagree with him but will respond structurally to those allegations tomorrow,” he said.
Hangala said labour minister Utoni Nujoma implored B2Gold to consider lifting the suspensions and imposing a different sanction during their numerous meetings.
“During the meeting between the company and the MUN, the union acknowledged that their members should have followed the internal grievance and dispute mechanisms available to them before embarking on an unsanctioned work stoppage,” Hangala said.
The miners returned to their duty stations on Friday.
Moreover, the company indicated that they will stop the temporary recruitment process to replace the suspended employees.
“We recruited some people to work when they were on suspension temporarily and that will be ceased,” he said.
Hangala denied submitting the wrong documentation for B2Gold’s application for a continuous operations permit.
The last week said B2Gold did not submit the correct required documentation, which delayed the processing of their permit.
“Yes, the ministry said that, and we respect them, but as far as we are concerned, we have done what we had to procedurally and on time.
“I don’t want to discuss it here. We have a number of people involved in this, but this is not an issue now,” Hangala said.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
