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19 March, 2026IndustriALL Global Union affiliates from Australia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe stressed on protecting workers’ rights and benefits at the annual global dialogue meeting in Johannesburg on 12-13 March.
After fending off BHP’s hostile bid worth over US$40 billion in 2024, Anglo American chose to streamline. It shed nickel and steelmaking coal assets. The demerger of its platinum business into Valterra Platinum wrapped up in May 2025.
Talks drag on for the sale of De Beers, eyed for completion in 2026. Meanwhile, Anglo American merged with Canada’s Teck Resources to create Anglo Teck, a major copper player.
Workers at Valterra Platinum in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and at De Beers in Botswana and Namibia, demand firm protections. These cover freedom of association, collective bargaining and maternity rights. They insist on a just transition that honours their benefits and interests.
The demands emerged under the existing memorandum of understanding between IndustriALL and Anglo American. The MoU covers dialogue on health and safety, ending gender-based violence and harassment, sustainable mining which includes environmental, social, and governance issues.
The global dialogue tackles new technologies, training, retraining, a Just Transition for coal workers and compliance with the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).
Key worries surfaced. IRMA audits flagged respiratory risks and exposure issues at Sishen in South Africa. Unions pointed to ageing equipment at Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela mine. At Unki mine in Zimbabwe, power cuts weaken ventilation without backups, raising accident risks.
Workers are anxious
Anxiety runs high during disposals. Workers at De Beers in Botswana and South Africa feel lost. Voluntary retrenchment packages for over 1,000 in Botswana triggered panic — refusing might mean no job. “Workers at Joaneng and Orapa feel like lost sheep in the bush,” said Fenellah Thebe from Debswana.
Stephen Smyth, general vice president of Australia’s Mining and Energy Union, highlighted success in Australia. Unions and Anglo American jointly embraced global health standards, hazard identification and risk management on the continent.
Kemal Özkan, IndustriALL assistant general secretary, stressed full MoU adherence. The MoU upholds global dialogue, collective bargaining and union voice. Anglo American’s policies and culture must address legacy issues in transitions, he said, especially for workers in critical raw materials as well as maintaining industrial harmony.
He emphasized that
“the current global dialogue is essential for aligning IndustriALL’s strategies with corporate changes, ensuring that demergers do not erode hard-won gains in labour rights, fair transition frameworks, and inclusive industrial policies across Southern Africa.”
He further explained that it is the expectation that Anglo’s description on searching for like-minded takeover for diamond operations reflects the standards and values of the company in terms of their operation as well maintaining Industrial harmony and cooperation with its stakeholders.
The meeting covered demerged entities like Valterra Platinum and Unki. Concerns include contractor labour-broking at Unki evading collective agreements, casualisation blocking benefits, rising silicosis claims at Mogalakwena, and for embracing of human rights due diligence by sub-contractors.
Gender mainstreaming and addressing gender-based violence and harassment
On gender, Anglo American reported 38 per cent women in top management and progress via its Living with Dignity hub — reporting of GBVH jumped to 75 from 10-20 per cent. Unions called for harmonising company policies with collective bargaining and ending bullying and harassment.
IRMA findings at Sishen and Kolomela revealed gaps: inconsistent risk assessments, training gaps, weak respiratory programmes, and worker reluctance to refuse unsafe work.
Delegates urged Anglo American to ensure “like-minded” buyers uphold standards. They pushed for extended dialogue covering Anglo Teck and future partners not yet under the MoU.
Unions stay cautiously optimistic. Anglo Teck’s copper projects in Chile and Peru, alongside iron-ore expansion in Brazil, should create more jobs than they cut.