THE Labour Court has suspended plans by Canadian gold mining giant Placer Dome to slash between 2700 and 2900 jobs in its mine west of Johannesburg, public SABC radio said on Tuesday. The company had cited the falling price of gold for its decision to cut jobs in Western Areas Mine. The court found Placer Dome management failed to comply with local industry requirements that proper consultation take place among stakeholders before any mass layoffs take place, SABC said. The redundancies, which were to be effected on Monday, have been suspended for nine days to allow management and the National Union of Mineworkers — which filed the court action — to explore alternatives to job-cutting. The company did not comment immediately.