Workforce at a glance

Our workforce will always be the foundation of our success and the backbone on which we build our sustainable business. This approach ensures a safe and healthy workplace geared for human resource development, allowing us to attract and retain employees. By raising awareness of our approach to our employees, we embed a culture of sustainable development that touches every part of our daily activities.

At the end of 2010 the staff complement totalled 1,592 permanent employees, compared to 1,415 employees at the end of 2009, of which 98 per cent were Namibians, 1.3 per cent permanent residence permit holders and 0.7 per cent work permit holders.

Female representation among all our employees increased slightly from 11 per cent in 2009 to 14 per cent in 2010. Of our new employees recruited during 2010, 13 per cent were female and 87 per cent male compared to 16.4 per cent female and 83.6 per cent male in 2009.
Although the age profile continues to indicate an ageing workforce, there has been a change due to the younger age of new employees. The average age of the new employees was 29 years compared to 40 in 2009. The youngest employee to join the mine in 2010 was 19 years old, while in the same year three employees reached the age of 65, four employees turned 62 and two employees turned 60.

A total of 47 apprentices, who were previously affiliated with the mine, joined our permanent workforce during 2010. After completing Grade 12, many learners enrol at tertiary institutions to learn technical skills needed for becoming an artisan, electrician, carpenter or engineering technician — all areas with a great skills shortage in Namibia. For many years we have been taking in apprentices to do their internship to enable them to complete their studies. As part of our recruitment drive, we recruited a large number of these apprentices.

A total of 69 employees left the company's employment for various reasons. However, 246 new employees were recruited in 2010. In addition to the mine's permanent employees, an average of nearly 1,800 contractors were on site every day during 2010.

Affirmative Action

For the eleventh consecutive year the company was certified as having complied with stipulations of the Affirmative Action (Employment) Act, 1998 (No. 29 of 1998). Hitherto, we put systems in place to ensure that existing employment barriers are eliminated and the creation of new barriers is prevented.

Notburga Amupolo, the only female Boilermaker at the mine. She learned her trade at the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) in Arandis and plans to complete her N6 Mechanical Engineering in 2011, which will qualify her as an Engineering Technician.

The profile of the workforce is as follows: