South African platinum producer Anglo American Platinum announced Friday that it will cut 4,800 jobs. Though members of the National Union of Mineworkers have expressed disappointment, the deal comes as a revision to an earlier plan by management to cut 14,000 jobs. With unemployment in the country standing at more than 25 percent and elections on the horizon next year, the government subsequently intervened on the earlier plan, resulting in Friday's announcement. The company has defended its plan as a measure that will return Amplats to profitability, thus protecting 40,000 jobs.
See "South Africa's Amplats cuts 4,800 jobs", Ed Stoddard and Sherilee Lakmidas, Reuters, August 29, 2013