NUMSA intensifies calls for government intervention to prevent mass retrenchments at Arcelor Mittal.

VAAL TRIANGLE - The National Union of Metalworkers has intensified calls for government intervention to prevent mass retrenchments at ArcelorMittal South Africa, where over 3,500 jobs are at risk. Numsa’s general secretary Irvin Jim states the union’s central committee is unanimous in its commitment to understanding the rationale behind ArcelorMittal’s decision to retrench and close plants in Vereeniging and Newcastle, as well as ArcelorMittal Rail and Structure. Jim also emphasises the union’s readiness to engage in talks and wage battles in the engineering sector.

Meanwhile, the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of Southern Africa has expressed alarm over the crumbling state of the steel industry. ArcelorMittal South Africa cites weak demand, ongoing infrastructure issues, persistent rail logistics challenges, and intensified load-shedding as factors prompting the closure of its long steel operations. The federation’s president Elias Monage told eNCA the retrenchments will have a significant impact on the South African economy.