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SA National Union of Metalworkers protests over retrenchments at ArcelorMittal

Date: Feb 21, 2025

Members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) are picketing at the offices of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in Sandton, Johannesburg, in response to looming retrenchments at ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA).

The State-owned IDC is a minority shareholder in ArcelorMittal SA. AMSA plans to shut its long steel business, a move that will affect 3 500 jobs. NUMSA is urging the government, through the IDC, to intervene and prevent the retrenchments.

NUMSA has expressed concern, stating that although ArcelorMittal has extended the deadline to finalise section 189 consultations and the wind-down process by a month, the threat of job losses remains high. The company postponed the wind-down of its long steel business by a month to allow for discussions with the government on potential measures to prevent the closure.

NUMSA members have taken to the streets in a picket at the IDC offices, demanding that a plan to save jobs at AMSA be swiftly finalised. The closure of the company, if carried out, will result in the retrenchment of approximately 3 500 employees, with analysts predicting that the impact could lead to the loss of up to 100 000 jobs along the value chain.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--