The new restructuring of the Sibanye-Stillwater mining company in South Africa could put more than three thousand miners into extreme poverty.

The mining company has announced the reduction of its gold mining operations and services, which could affect 3,107 workers and 915 contractors, reports Notícias ao Minuto.

Livhuwani Mammburu, spokesperson for the South African metalworkers' union, said that the move by the mining company, one of the world's largest gold and ore producers, "will plunge many mine workers into extreme poverty".

The decision follows the company's inability to manage, which is causing serious instability in the gold production sector.

The proposed restructuring of operations and services could potentially affect 3,107 employees and 915 contractors, according to a statement from the multinational.

The measure is aimed at making up for production losses at the Beatrix 1 and Kloof 2 gold mines, located in the South African provinces of Free State and Gauteng, respectively, which employ more than 18,000 workers, the mining company said.

"Following the previous restructuring completed during 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the Group's ongoing business review identified the need to address losses at the Beatrix 1 well, which failed to achieve planned production, and the Kloof 2 plant which, following the shutdown of the Kloof 4 well during 2023 had insufficient processing material available to cover overheads," he pointed out.