16 April, 2025As Anglo American restructures and spins off major assets, unions are demanding firm guarantees: no rollback on workers’ rights. With demergers underway, unions from Australia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe met the company in Johannesburg to push for continued commitment to dialogue, a Just Transition, and protection under the existing global agreement.
IndustriALL and Anglo American signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on industrial relations, climate change, Industry 4.0 and the future of work. Through the MoU Anglo American committed to ensuring “workers’ rights to union membership and collective bargaining without fear of retaliation, repression or any other form of discrimination.”
The Anglo American global network meets annually with support from the multinational and IndustriALL. The network’s agenda includes promoting social dialogue, responsible mining standards and independent audits, and to jointly address environmental social and governance issues. Further, the MoU stresses on protecting workers interests during the energy transition and decarbonization, Just Transition plans, improved gender relations to address gender-based violence and sexual harassment (GBVSH), and better occupational health and safety. Living and social wages are prioritized. Anglo American’s sustainable mining plans and smart mining including digitalization and automation are also discussed. The meeting is also an opportunity to discuss current and emerging issues concerning the Mou.
The dialogue at this year's meeting focussed on Anglo American’s demergers. Trade union wanted assurance on the continuation of the MoU amid restructuring and demergers of several business units with only the mining copper and iron ore being retained as the core business. For example, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), a leading global producer of platinum group metals with mines in South Africa and Zimbabwe, is going through a demerger. At the completion of the demerger scheduled for June, Amplats will be renamed Valterra Platinum Limited and be listed on the Johannesburg and London Stock Exchanges. Whilst Anglo American will retain 19.9 per cent stake post demerger, it intends to eventually exit from the company. The meeting heard that there is potential for platinum following the catalytic converters resurgence as the electric vehicle market slows down.
Restructuring is also taking place at diamond mining company, De Beers, with mines in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, which is facing stiff competition from lab grown diamonds. Anglo American is also selling its steel making coal assets in Australia to Peabody Energy and has already sold other assets in nickel mining.
The union concerns in current operations included concerns of effects of metals to lactation from mothers and absence of laundry facilities at operations in Botswana, and poor communications with mine managers which leads to mistrust. Other issues raised were inadequate consultations before retrenchment notices.
Botswana, and poor communications with mine managers which leads to mistrust. Other issues raised were inadequate consultations before retrenchment notices. Additionally, more workers were employed on short contracts by sub-contractors than those who were permanent workers at a ratio of 60 and 40 per cent which unions said should be reversed.
Davidzo Muchawaya, IRMA Regional Lead for Africa emphasized that unions must use the IRMA audit as a tool to fight for workers’ rights. She cited a recent audit at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena mine complex in Limpopo, South Africa, where 53 workers were interviewed. According to the audit report, the mine received IRMA 50 certification which means it met 40 critical requirements as well as 50 or 75 per cent on business integrity, planning for positive legacies, social responsibility, and environment responsibility. “Topics discussed included terms of employment and working conditions, with specific attention on the treatment of women and vulnerable groups, freedom of association, health, and safety, etc.”
On gender equality, diversity, and inclusion unions said gender stereotypes continued to hinder women’s promotion and that sex for promotions must end. In response, the Anglo American management reassured the meeting that all cases of GBVSH are investigated, and action taken against perpetrators including dismissals.
“The future of the MoU is critical especially with demergers but must hinge on a Just Transition plan that includes discussions on future jobs, stakeholder engagement strategies, accountability, and pathways for decarbonization,”
said Glen Mpufane, IndustriALL mining director.