Issued by Harmony Gold
Mining Company Limited
18 May 2010
For more details contact:
Esha Brijmohan
Investor Relations Officer
on +27(0)82 759 1775
or
Marian van der Walt
Executive: Corporate and
Investor Relations
on +27 (0)82 888 1242
or
Graham Briggs
Chief Executive Officer
on +27(0)83 265 0274
Corporate Office:
Randfontein Office Park
P O Box 2
Randfontein
South Africa 1760
T +27 (11) 411 2000
www.harmony.co.za
JSE: HAR
NYSE: HMY
LSE: HRM
ISIN No.: ZAE000015228
HARMONY, UNIONS AGREE GROUND-BREAKING PROFITABILITY PLAN TO
SAVE JOBS
Johannesburg. Tuesday, 18 May 2010. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
(Harmony) today announced a ground-breaking job preservation and profitability
agreement with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), UASA and Solidarity in
respect of restructuring at the company’s Virginia operations in the Free State.
In terms of the agreement, certain sections of the Virginia operations’ Merriespruit 1
shaft will continue to operate, provided:
o
these sections do not make a loss (on a total cost basis, including any capital
expenditure) for two consecutive months; and
o
total costs remained under R250 000/kg.
Last month, Harmony announced – after an extensive review – its intention to close
three loss-making shafts at the Virginia operations – Merriespruit 1 and 3, and
Harmony 2. The company has since engaged with trade unions under the auspices of
the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), in a bid to
mitigate the effect of the closures on jobs.
Harmony CEO Graham Briggs said: “The innovative agreement announced today
resulted from the process of engagement, and points to the excellent relationship
between management and trade unions in the Free State.”
“All parties recognise that, to achieve the desired result – keeping one of the shafts
operational and containing job losses to fewer than 1 000 – the agreed cost and
profitability targets must be achieved through improved productivity. I believe there is
a firm commitment to achieve success by everyone involved.”
Ends.