The Perception on Women Working in Core Mining Environment

Abstract

Until 1996, all women in South Africa were prohibited, by law, from working underground. With the introduction of the Mining Charter all, this changed and companies started hiring women for different positions. The objectives of the study were to determine the perceptions about women working in core mining environment, of the working environment of women in the mining activities, to establish what changes were made to accommodate women in this specific mine, and to determine if women can advance to senior positions within this company. A field study was conducted at a chrome mine, and a random sample of 100 employees participated part in the study. The central research tool utilised was a questionnaire using a Likert-5 type rating scale. The findings were that whilst a lot has happened since 1996 to create an environment that is accommodative to women working in the mining sector, mining companies would still have to work hard to change the perception that women are not wanted in the mining industry. There is a lot of resistance towards women working in the core mining industry. Mines are making changes to accommodate women. Women are receiving a lot of support from management to become part of the mining environment.