The Congress of South African Trade Unions North West and the NUM met yesterday with the Department of Labour's legal team to discuss the matter of non-payment of Aurora employees.

COSATU congratulated the Department of Labour and the labour court for the order issued against the Aurora Directors and their company to pay workers their money.

The labour court order, issued to Aurora on 29 June 2011, said that the mining company must pay workers what is owed to them, amounting R3 947 645.

COSATU calls on the liquidators to make sure that workers do not lose their money, and calls on the Department of Labour to demand payment of workers before the end of July 2011. If they fail to do so a writ of execution must be ordered by the court.

On the matter of OMV, the company was ordered to pay workers an amount of R2 981 166, 04 plus 15% interest by the labour court in 2008. A writ of execution was also obtained to attach the properties of the company to pay workers what is due to them.

Negotiations have been taking place between Department of Labour and OMV directors. It is now clear that OMV is not prepared to pay workers what is due to them.

COSATU demands that Department of Labour proceed with the writ of execution order of April 2008 and make sure that workers are paid their money - capital of R2 98160,44 plus interest of 15% by the end of July 2011.

No negotiation on this matter! We want workers' money.

We call the department to act with speedy on both Aurora and OMV.

Statement issued by COSATU North West provincial secretary, Comrade Solly Phetoe, July 14 2011

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