[miningmx.com] – GLENCORE reduced the number of job losses at its Optimum mine to 380 employees after initially estimating 1,000 positions were at risk when it first announced it would shut the open-pit section at the operation.
“Through various engagements and company initiatives the impact has been significantly mitigated. Optimum is now proceeding with the closure of these operations which will result in the retrenchment of approximately 380 employees,” Glencore said in a statement.
About 250 employees had opted for voluntary severance packages and 96 were redeployed to other operations, it said.
The Swiss-based company had been heavily criticised by the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) which it said the firm had not properly informed it of its closure plans – a claim Glencore robustly denied.
