- The employment of large numbers of foreign workers in the mining industry resulted in part from the refusal of South African workers to work on the mines, particularly underground, at the level of wages offered. The decrease in the foreign/South African ratio since the early 1970s, is accounted for by a number of interrelated factors, including the relative increase in mining wages compared with wages in other sectors, fewer alternative sources of employment, and the undermining of the rural economic base as a result of land hunger caused by apartheid policies. Industry sources indicate that the industry's current needs could probably be met by local rural workers. This calls into question the continuation of the migrant labour system in the context of an available local labour supply and the government's policy of job protection for its nationals.
- It was also pointed out that a sudden disruption in supply patterns would cause considerable hardship for communities historically dependent on the mines for earnings. Cognisance also needs to be taken of the importance of miners' earnings for the sending country and the negative impact that shedding such labour might have on their economies. However, given the decline of the industry, the demand for foreign labour will inevitably shrink. Already the number of novices recruited for the mines is very limited. Changes are also occurring in the pattern of recruitment, in part as a result of the freeing of the movement of South African labour consequent on the abolition of influx control in 1986. It is now becoming increasingly possible for employers to recruit at the mine gate.
- In its submission to the Commission, the Chamber of Mines argued for the continuation of the migrant labour system since "it is in the interests of the mining industry that the full potential of the Southern African labour market be tapped in the search for labour with the required qualities". According to the Chamber of Mines, "the industry needs to obtain the appropriate people in sufficient numbers and at appropriate wages in order to continue mining at the same scale as at present".
- The Commission believes that the migrant labour system must be phased out. This does not mean that citizens of the region in particular citizens of Lesotho and Mozambique who have long depended upon employment in South Africa should be denied access to the South African labour market. On the contrary, as outlined above, we propose that their terms of access be easier relative to citizens of other countries. However, the use of migrant labour in its present form cannot be justified.
- While the Commission acknowledges that, on a select number of mines, significant improvements have been made to the living conditions of migrants, the regime for most of these workers is still characterised by poor housing in single sex hostels and inadequate recreational facilities and opportunities for training. Many of the complaints of mine managers about unmotivated workers surely stem from the adverse living and working conditions to which they are subject. The Commission therefore recommends that, during this process of phasing out the migrant labour system, conditions of migrants must be improved and humanised in terms of higher quality housing and provision of affordable family accommodation near the mining areas. Two Commissioners pointed out that if the costs of improving accommodation on marginal mines are such that they would result in job losses, then a conflict arises between the Commission's goals of prioritising employment, and that of upgrading accommodation. They argued that in such circumstances, maintaining employment should be of central concern, and that any trade-offs should be managed through negotiation with the workers concerned.
- The TEBA recruiting and labour processing system which binds mine workers to particular mines should be reviewed since it results in allocative inefficiencies from the perspective of workers' mobility within the industry. Furthermore, evidence indicates that migrant miners have little incentive to acquire skills because their only path for advancement is within a particular mine.
