Five companies to seek comprehensive solution on occupational lung disease
Johannesburg, 18 November 2014: Anglo American South Africa, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony and Sibanye (“the companies”) announce that they have formed an industry working group to address issues relating to compensation and medical care for occupational lung disease (OLD) in the gold mining industry in South Africa.
The companies intend to engage all stakeholders in order to work together to design and implement a comprehensive solution that is both fair to past, present and future gold mining employees, and also sustainable for the sector.
To this end, the companies are arranging initial meetings with the departments of health, labour and mineral resources, organised labour, legal representatives of claimants and other mining companies. It is intended that this will lead to an intensive engagement process during 2015 intended to lead to a comprehensive solution.
The companies believe that fairness and sustainability are necessary to any comprehensive solution. The solution needs to be a product of the engagement process that has been initiated.
The companies are among respondent companies in a number of lawsuits related to occupational lung disease. These companies do not believe that they are liable in respect of the claims brought, and they are defending these. The companies do, however, believe that they should work together to seek a solution to this South African mining industry legacy issue.
The companies active in gold mining have been working for many years to try to eliminate the incidence of occupational lung disease through improved underground dust management and other measures. These efforts continue.
For further information contact:
Alan Fine
E-mail: alan@rair.co.za
T: +27 (0) 11 880 3924
M: +27 (0) 83 250 0757
www.OLDcollab.co.za