Steel producer ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA), which reported a loss of R2.6-billion for the interim period to June 30, warned on Thursday that it expected steel demand to remain subdued for the foreseeable future and indicated that it was pushing ahead with a large-scale labour reorganisation. The JSE-listed company currently employs about 7 000 people directly, as well as 1 800 contractors and has, in the last year, already cut 1 500 direct jobs and 1 500 subcontractor jobs as a result of decisions to place Saldanha Steel on care and maintenance and to reduce production at Newcastle to about 65% of its nameplate.
