The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has stated its intention to oppose De Beers' plan to temporarily halt mining operations at the Venezia mine in Limpopo. This move could jeopardize the employment of 1214 workers.
IOL previously reported that De Beers plans to suspend operations at the Venezia mine, which is South Africa's largest diamond mine, for a period of two years to reduce operating costs.
This proposal regarding the Venezia mine followed a decision made earlier this year to suspend the Tuzo Phase 3 expansion project at the Gacho Kue mine in Canada, as indicated by the group in a statement on Monday.
In its statement, the union noted that this decision will have a devastating impact on workers, their families, and local communities who depend on this mine for their livelihood.
NUM strongly condemns the decision by De Beers and De Beers Sightholder Sales South Africa (DBSSSA) to suspend production at the Venezia mine for two years and issue a Section 189A notice, which threatens the livelihoods of 1134 permanent employees at the Venezia mine and another 80 DBSSSA employees. The union emphasized that a total of 1214 workers now face the possibility of dismissal.
The union also expressed concern over how De Beers communicated this information, noting that the company has been aware of the difficulties facing the diamond industry for some time. NUM insists that workers should not be the first to bear the consequences of the company's cost-cutting measures, and called on De Beers to consider alternatives to layoffs.
Masibulele Naki, NUM's chief negotiator for the diamond sector, stated that workers cannot be treated as disposable tools to be discarded when economic problems arise. He added that De Beers has long known about the challenges in the diamond market, so presenting this announcement as a sudden crisis is inaccurate. He also pointed out that workers' salaries are not the cause of the company's current difficulties.
NUM concluded that wages, jobs, and workers' livelihoods cannot become the first target when management seeks to cut costs. Workers cannot agree to wage reductions, nor can they be required to shoulder the burden of protecting profits while executives continue to reap significant benefits.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is developing a framework to provide social security to millions of people working in the informal sector, in unregulated enterprises, as well as to gig economy workers and self-employed individuals who are currently outside its network.
This will allow new participants to deduct a portion of their income under a universal pension fund scheme. This accumulation phase is based on the existing EPFO model, allowing new subscribers to make contributions daily or annually. The accumulated capital will earn annual interest and benefit from similar tax exemptions. This means complete tax exemption for an annual contribution up to 2.5 lakh, including interest on it.
The agency plans to significantly modernize the withdrawal phase. According to the proposal, subscribers can keep their capital in EPFO even after retirement, which may be extended to current members. Under the proposed model, new subscribers may be offered a systematic withdrawal plan option, giving them freedom to choose the order of payment—whether advanced or deferred. An official representative told TOI that the agency was studying models such as those used in Singapore to develop the basic structure.
Unlike the PM Shram Yogi Maandhan Yojana scheme, which provides 50% co-financing from the Central Government for retirement, this scheme will be fully funded by the individuals themselves. This step is being taken as the Ministry of Labour seeks to ensure pension savings outside the current scope of EPFO, which covers employees of enterprises with more than 20 staff.
Although EPFO has not yet received an official mandate, the agency has tendered for the development and creation of the IT architecture to fulfill this task. As part of the implementation of new labour codes, the government has mandated platforms such as taxi aggregators or delivery apps to register their workers through a special portal. If the EPFO scheme is approved, for example, a freelance consultant could plan their retirement by contributing to the new model. An official representative noted: 'The new social security code gives the government the ability to ensure that everyone has access to some form of social coverage. Discussions are in the initial stages, and various global models are being studied. It will be a self-funded model, without using budgetary support.'
Localiza, considered the largest vehicle rental and mobility company in Latin America, announced the opening of over 500 job opportunities in various Brazilian states.
These positions are available through the Catho job platform and are aimed at both people seeking re-employment and new professionals wishing to start a career. The benefits offered include medical assistance, daycare vouchers, and Profit and Results Participation (PLR).
Founded in 1973 in Belo Horizonte and listed on B3, the company is part of the Localiza&Co group. This group has over 17 thousand employees and a fleet exceeding 550 thousand vehicles, operating in six countries. In addition to rentals for individuals, the group also operates in corporate fleet management and the sale of used vehicles, which sustains the constant need for labor.
The open positions cover multiple areas of the company, such as sales, operations, administration, and customer service. Among the mentioned roles are sales consultant, administrative assistant, operations assistant, car washer, and supervisor. There are also vacancies for young apprentices, serving as an entry point into the formal job market and for skill development within the organization itself.
The opportunities are distributed across various regions of the country, allowing candidates to use the platform's filters to find jobs that best suit their profile or geographical proximity. Although the company has not specified the exact distribution of vacancies by state or function, Catho reports that benefit packages may vary depending on the role and location, potentially covering medical and dental assistance, meal vouchers, transport vouchers, childcare aid, and PLR.
Interested parties can access all vacancies directly on the Catho website or app, where they can register or update their resume free of charge. The platform facilitates the search with filters by area of activity, salary range, contract type, and location.
The first participants of the organized employment program from Uzbekistan in Belarus complained about the quality of living conditions and the level of wages. Workers from the Andzhan region, who arrived in the Vitebsk region, published a video appeal asking for help to return to Uzbekistan.
As part of a pilot project, 255 residents from the Andzhan region were recently sent to Belarus. Before leaving, they were promised official employment, stable pay, decent living conditions, and social guarantees. However, after arriving, some workers stated that the actual conditions do not match these promises.
In videos posted on social networks, they showed the dormitory where they live, noting that its condition was worse than expected. According to the workers, their monthly earnings are about 500 US dollars, while they have to cover food and daily living expenses themselves. After deducting mandatory expenses, they are left with approximately 200 US dollars, which makes further work in Belarus economically unviable.
In their video appeal, the workers addressed the governor of the Andzhan region, Shukhrat Abdurakhmanov, asking for help to return to Uzbekistan. The Migration Agency informed journalists that this situation is under review. Representatives of the agency and officials from the Andzhan regional administration present in Belarus are studying the relationship between employers and migrant workers.
The agency clarified that the workers were sent by the Andzhan regional administration as part of a pilot project. It also stated that if an employer fails to meet the terms of the employment contract, including salary payments, the workers will be offered a job with another employer. The agency expects the problem to be resolved by the end of the day.
Furthermore, the Migration Agency mentioned that Uzbek investors are opening farms in Belarus, where employment opportunities for Uzbek citizens are being considered. According to signed contracts, the average monthly salary at these enterprises should be between 900 and 1000 US dollars, with a maximum of 1200 US dollars. It was previously reported that around 5000 Uzbek citizens are planned to be sent to Belarus under the organized employment program.
