AngloGold Ashanti has expressed disappointment over a protest by some former employees of the company claiming to be owed some special compensation packages.
The former employees, who were rendered redundant between 2013 and 2014, say about 4,000 affected ex-workers are owed between $60,000 and $125,000 depending on the number of years they served.
But the company says it does not owe them any monies. In a statement released today, Monday, it clarified that all entitlements due the former employees were fully paid in accordance with the Collective Agreement and all applicable laws.
“All entitlements due to retrenched employees were fully paid, in accordance with the Collective Agreement and all applicable laws” the statement said.
The company says it is unfortunate that despite all attempts to clarify the Collective Agreement and verify calculations to the leaders of the group they continue with these agitations.
AngloGold says the group’s claim of a purported Unprecedented Negotiation Agreement signed in 2013 constitutes forgery, and that the matter is under investigation by the Ghana Police.
The company says it is currently focused on redeveloping the Obuasi Mine into a modern, productive, long-life and high-margin mining operation.
Below is the full statement
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana Sets Record Straight on Retrenchment Packages
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana (“the Company”) notes with regret protest action outside of its office in Accra by a small group of former employees alleging some inadequacies of the retrenchment packages paid out to employees back in 2014.
The Company is confident that all entitlements due to retrenched employees were fully paid, in accordance with the Collective Agreement and all applicable laws. The retrenchment programme, preceded by intensive dialogue with affected parties, was supported and facilitated by a range of stakeholders, including national authorities, the Ghana Mine Workers’ Union (GMWU) and the Chief Labour Officer.
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana is disappointed that despite several engagements with this aggrieved group to clarify the Collective Agreement and verify calculations, these unfounded claims persist, including a purported Unprecedented Negotiation Agreement signed in 2013 by the Company, the Chief Labour Officer and the GMWU. The Company and the GMWU have made it clear to the leadership of this aggrieved group that this purported Unprecedented Negotiation Agreement is a forgery. This matter has been reported to the Ghana Police and an investigation is currently underway.
AngloGold Ashanti Ghana is currently seized with the important work of redeveloping the Obuasi Mine into a modern, productive, long-life and high-margin mining operation. This effort not only provides jobs to the mine’s direct employees but ensures further job creation through procurement and contract opportunities offered to a range of local businesses across the operation’s value chain.