After the retrenchment of over 6,000 workers at AngloGold Ashanti, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has stopped Newmont Ghana’s plan to further downsize its number of employees.
Newmont Ghana had planned to sack about 600 workers this year as part of what it says is an ongoing process to improve cost and operational efficiency.
Last year, 250 members of staff were sent home.
The NLC came to the aid of the workers after the Mine Workers Union took the matter to them for adjudication
Newmont Ghana’s representatives at the NLC arbitration were said have fumbled when attempting to defend the decision to sack employees.
General Secretary of Newmont Ghana’s workers’ union, Prince William Ankrah said documents in the possession of the union do not support Newmont’s claims that it’s being forced to sack the workers because of the exceptionally high operational cost.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Chamber of Mines is warning of a possible total collapse of the mining industry unless urgent steps are taken to review the entire sector.