The African Business Journal: World’s number one copper producer to cut 3000 jobs

World’s number one copper producer to cut 3000 jobs
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World News on 06 September, 2010 10:03:00
 
TABJ Sep 6 - The world’s number one copper producer, Codelco, will cut
3000 jobs by the end of the year. The Chilean company will offer 15 per cent of
its workers early retirement in order to boost efficiency.
CEO Diego Hernandez said to the newspaper La Tercera, "We have a special
situation compared to our mining competition.”
He said that 21 per cent of workers were on sick leave or chronically ill and
the average age of staffers was 48.
"That clearly affects productivity ... That means Codelco can't definitely count
on a fifth of its workforce. We are talking about offering (retirement) to 10-15
per cent of Codelco's workforce."