Over 1 500 workers at Finsch Diamond Mine in the Northern Cape have downed tools following the announcement that the mine will be put under business rescue.

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) says that before the business rescue decision, the employer promised workers that their June salaries would be paid.

NUM branch secretary at the mine, King Serebolo, has raised concerns about the safety of the mine.

He says it cannot be business as usual.

“There is a U-turn from the management of this company. They no longer want to ensure that the employees are working in a safe place. That is why, for safety reasons, we have decided to say that underground is not safe. The second part is that the employees must be paid their money next week on the 25^th because one cannot just come on the 11^th hour and say you are no longer going to pay employees.”

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