A recently launched report by the Alternative Information Development Centre (AIDC) has revealed that the international mining corporation, Lonmin has attempted to hide profits of at least R400 million per year between 1999 and 2012 in the tax haven of Bermuda.
Speaking at the press conference recently held at Constitutional Hill in Johanneburg, Dick Forslund from (AIDC) said that Lonmin has used claims of financial difficulties to avoid paying workers the demanded living wage of R12,500, and to avoid its legal responsibility to build houses for the mineworkers.
According to the Mining Charter, Lonmin is obliged to build 5500 houses for mineworkers over five years, but have only built three show houses. Lonmin has pleaded poverty.
Right2Know Campaign has said that the lack of enforcement of legislation against tax evasion by the Department of Department of Minerals and Energy, allows companies like Lonmin to get away with exploiting workers and concealing essential information.
The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), which has demanded a R12 500 minimum wage in the gold sector in current negotiations supports the report. During the press conference, AMCU’s president, Joseph Mathunjwa fought back tears as he reminisced about the events leading up to the massacre.
en