Directors: A J Wright (Chairman), N J Holland
†**
(Chief Executive Officer), P A Schmidt** (Chief Financial Officer), K Ansah
#
, C A Carolus,
R Dañino*, A R Hill
≠
, J G Hopwood, R P Menell, D N Murray, D M J Ncube, R L Pennant-Rea
†
, C I von Christierson, G M Wilson
†
British,
≠
Canadian,
#
Ghanaian, *Peruvian, ** Executive Director
Corporate Secretary: C Farrel
Gold Fields Limited
Reg. 1968/004880/06
150 Helen Road,
Sandown, Sandton,
2196
Postnet Suite 252
Private Bag X30500
Houghton, 2041
South Africa
Tel +27 11 562-9700
Fax +27 11 562-9838
www.goldfields.co.za
Enquiries
Media and Investor Enquiries
Willie Jacobsz
Tel +508
839-1188
Mobile +857 241-7127
email Willie.Jacobsz@gfexpl.com
Nikki Catrakilis-Wagner
Tel
+27 11 562-9706
Mobile +27 (0) 83 309-6720
email Nikki.Catrakilis-Wagner@
goldfields.co.za
Media Enquiries
Julian Gwillim
Mobile +27 (0) 82 452 4389
email Julian.Gwillim@goldfields.co.za
MEDIA RELEASE
NUM SERVES STRIKE NOTICE ON GOLD FIELDS
Johannesburg, 1 March 2010: Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields)
(JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) today announced that it has
received a notice from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)
informing the Company that the NUM intends to embark on strike
action across all of Gold Fields’ operations in South Africa from
Sunday, 7 March 2010.
The NUM has indicated that the strike will proceed indefinitely unless
Gold Fields abolishes the Functional Work Capacity Testing System
(the System) on all of its South African mines.
The Mine Health and Safety legislation in South Africa requires of an
employer to implement a Functional Work Capacity Testing System
together with an associated Code of Practice. The purpose of this
legislation is to ensure that all individuals working on a mining
operation meet the basic standards of fitness required to work safely
in an underground situation, and is central to maintaining a safe
working environment.
Following consultation with all employee representative
organisations, including the NUM, implementation of the System
commenced in 2006 for all new recruits at Gold Fields’ mining
operations in South Africa.
The NUM, however, recently expressed its dissatisfaction with the
System following certain new recruits being deemed unfit to work on
an underground mining operation after undergoing the test.
As a result Gold Fields and the NUM have been in dialogue for the
past six months in an effort to find a solution for the continuation of
the System, which would meet the requirements of the law and be
acceptable to both the NUM and the Company. The NUM, however,
has continued to insist that the System be abolished in its entirety.
Gold Fields and the NUM will be meeting during the week with a view
to resolving the matter. Failing resolution of the matter, or withdrawal
of the strike notice by the NUM, Gold Fields will have no choice but to
apply for an urgent interdict to have the proposed strike action
declared illegal.