JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 25, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Implats) (JSE:IMP) (LSE:IMPLA) (Pink Sheets:IMPUY) confirms that some 3,000 employees reported for duty today 25 March 2003. Another 15,000 employees remained on an unprotected and illegal work stoppage at its operations on the Impala Lease Area.
This follows efforts by management to encourage members to return to work through briefs detailing the potential consequences of their actions.
At the same time discussions with the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) continued during the day and the NUM is urging its members to return to work.
Many other employees have indicated their willingness to return to work. It appears, however, that there is a small dissident group of employees who are attempting to prevent them from doing so. Management and the union are in agreement on this issue; the company's security service and the South Africa Police Services will assist in protecting those employees who wish to return to work.
Impala remains hopeful that the issue will be resolved. The company has enjoyed a constructive and positive relationship with the union and employees in the past and would like to resolve this issue without resorting to mass dismissal.