It is reported that South African manganese producer Assmang and trade unions will start a consultation process on retrenchments at the Black Rock mine, where about 19% of the mine's workers could be fired.

Trade union Solidarity said that it had received a Section 189 notice from Assmang, which indicated that 261 of the mine's 1,388 employees could possibly be affected by a retrenchment process.

Mr Jan Steenkamp CEO of ferrous division of African Rainbow Minerals said that jobs would be reduced at the Black Rock mine, but would not be drawn on the exact number.

He added that Assmang is hoping to accommodate some of the retrenched manganese workers at its new Khumani iron ore mine, where employment is growing.

Solidarity said that Assmang plans implement the retrenchments at the end of July 2009.

(Sourced from www.miningweekly.com)