NUMSA members picket outside IDC over looming ArcelorMittal retrenchments

JOHANNESBURG - The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) members are picketing outside the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) offices, over looming retrenchments of about 3,500 employees at ArcelorMittal South Africa.

In January, the company announced that it would be shutting down its long steel-making operations in Newcastle and Vereeniging. 

It said finding a solution in the business has been slow.

READ: Gauteng govt concerned about looming losses at ArcellorMittal

The union said ArcelorMittal has indicated that it would communicate a decision at the end of this month on whether to proceed with retrenchments if the government doesn't come to the party.

NUMSA spokesperson, Phakamile Hlubi-Majola: 

“There will be a loss of at least 3,500 direct jobs. But analysts are telling us that, that effect could actually be much higher, we're talking as high as 100,000 jobs lost.”