Forced retrenchments could compound Africa's poverty

摘要

Forced retrenchments in the mining industry could compound Africa's level of poverty owing to the high number of dependants living on a single mineworker's salary. Consulting engineering company SRK Consulting director and corporate consultant Roger Dixon reports that expected retrenchments this year will compound African poverty as the dependency ratio in some African countries can be as high as eight dependants to one worker. "The dependency ratio in Central African countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, are very high. So, if there were forced retrenchments of 5 000 workers in those countries, it could equate to 40 000 people who are facing poverty," says Dixon.