Transition a risk for coal workers

New research shows that jobs in coal mines are the most threatened by the energy transition

- Sheree Bega

The global shift away from coal has major implications for South Africa's coal mine workers.

The just transition to cleaner energy requires a deep understanding of the local context and the social realities of mine closures, according to a new study by University of Cape Town (UCT) researcher Megan Cole, published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science.

"Despite intense national debate about a 'just transition', we felt South Africa lacked a comprehensive, localised profile of coal mine workers — who they are, where they live, how they're employed and who is most exposed to closure risk," said Cole, of UCT's Future Water Institute.

To address this, the authors built a national dataset of 47100 workers at 33 mines in five provinces to "fill that gap and guide targeted support".

The analysis drew on all 33 publicly available social and labour plans (SLPs), spatial tax income data and technical mine data. This novel dataset assessed education, employment status, income levels and the risk of job loss because of mine closure.

The analysis showed that the workforce is predominantly black African (81%) and 82% are men. Importantly, 43% are contract workers.

Contractors are consistently more vulnerable, Cole said. "They have lower formal qualifications, weaker job protections and are more likely to come from another province, which compounds displacement risk when mines close. They have more precarious work, receive fewer benefits and face harder reemployment pathways."

More than half of workers are unskilled or semiskilled, with only 30% of permanent staff and 10% of contractors having post-school training, yet most emerging opportunities — in renewables, grid upgrades, advanced manufacturing and services — require certified skills.

"Without funded, portable skills programmes and placement support, reemployment rates will lag and incomes will fall."