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Monday, 18th December 2006 (4453 views)

Women are aiming for high-level jobs within South African's mining industry following recent legal reforms.

At present, the country's mining industry is largely dominated by men but new legislation means that many female professionals could be on course to enjoy a lucrative career within the industry, reports Reuters.

The largest opposition to women is often from fellow male colleagues who are wary of working with female staff, especially when they take up executive-level positions within mining companies.

However, the presence of women in the board rooms of mining companies is set to increase dramatically as the latest government requires companies to have ten per cent of jobs filed by women employees within three years.

Harmony Gold official Philip Kotze, speaking during a mine visit, explained: "Some of the guys really give them hell, they weren't too happy about it."

"But I think the women are great, they're more organised than us and more disciplined. They don't go out drinking on Friday."

The mining industry will also have to work hard to convince more women that a career within the sector could prove rewarding in order to boost female recruit numbers.

 

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