South Africa's platinum mining industry is being hit by a series of strikes by workers employed by JIC Mining Services.

The contractor is embroiled in a labour dispute with the National Union of Mineworkers that is impacting the platinum production of several junior miners.

Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), Eastern Platinum (Eastplats) and Platinum Australia have all been affected.

RBPlat said last week that prolonged industrial action would dent platinum production at its Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine, though it gave no details of the extent.

Eastplats warned strikes by 756 JIC employees would reduce output at its Crocodile River Mine by 50 per cent, or around 210 platinum group metal ounces per day.

This comes shortly after Eastplats reported a 29 per cent drop in third-quarter production.

NUM's dispute with JIC is also being felt at Platinum Australia's Smokey Hills complex, which has already suffered from violence near the mine and a temporary suspension of its mining licence.

The junior mining firm said last week that the strike had already caused "significant disruption to production".

Production at Impala Platinum's Rustenburg mines has been relatively unaffected by the industrial action, a spokesperson for the firm told miningmx.com.

Sources:

JIC labour dispute stings platinum miners (21/10/11)

UPDATE 1-RBPlat says contract miners strike may impact output (21/10/11)

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