A compensation fund for workers injured or killed in Sasol’s September 2004 blast was launched in Johannesburg on Monday.
”We are pleased to be able to announce today [Monday] that we have reached an agreement with the trade unions represented here,” Sasol chief executive Pat Davies said.
In terms of the agreement between the company and the Chemical, Energy, Paper, Printing, Wood and Allied Workers’ Union and Solidarity, the trust should be registered by the end of June 2006.
Qualifying victims of the accident and the dependants of those who died can submit applications for compensation to the September 2004 Accident Trust. Trustees, which include John Myburgh, Marrianne Felix and Marie Haasbroek, will consider the applications.
Solidarity general secretary Flip Buys said the agreement breached enormous shortcomings in South Africa’s compensation legislation.
Marius Croucamp, Solidarity senior organiser in the chemicals industry, told the South African Press Association anybody affected by the blast could submit a
claim for consideration.
It was not limited to union members or Sasol employees — contract workers were also eligible to apply.
Four Sasol employees and six contractors were killed on September 1 2004 in an explosion at Sasol’s Secunda plant. More than 300 people were injured. – Sapa