Labour Minister To Meet With Acelormittal Ahead Of Planned Shutdowns

Labour and Employment Minister Nomakhosazana Meth will on Friday meet with the management of AcelorMittal in Vanderbijlpark.

This after the steel producer announced that it will shutdown its operations in Newcastle and Vanderbijlpark.

The move is expected to result in 3 500 direct job losses and more joblessness in the steel value chain.

At the time of its announcement ArcelorMittal revealed that the imminent closure could have been avoided had the government moved quickly to address its concerns, including the countrys scrap metal policy and logistics challenges.

Department spokesperson, Thobeka Magcai says, The Minister will on Friday have an urgent meeting with the management of ArcelorMittal at the Vanderbijlpark Plant amid the looming shut down of its operations in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which may result in the loss 3 500 jobs, and devastating ripple effects on families and businesses in surrounding areas.