HIGHVELD, FROM SOUTH AFRICA, FACES A LOT OF PROBLEM

Highveld, from South Africa, issued S(189) notices to 1,800 of its staff members as a result of the Department of Labour’s non-payment for the previously agreed Training Layoff Scheme (“TLS”) and the failure of the IDC to provide additional funding of R150m.

The absence of this funding, which is critical for the continuation of Highveld as a going concern, may result in the complete wind down of the business and the retrenchment of all employees. This will have devastating implications for not only the local economy but for the steel industry and South Africa as a whole. As representatives of the Highveld labour force, Solidarity and NUMSA are urging government not to allow this to happen.