"South Africa's mining industry is in crisis. Retrenchments, cutbacks and rationalisation have resulted in more than 180,000 jobs being lost over six years. More cuts are expected with far-reaching consequences, not only for the miners but for their dependants and kin throughout southern Africa." "This book comes at a time when South Africa's new government of national unity is grappling with the task of transforming labour policy. If the migrant labour system stays, a central tenet of apartheid will be preserved. If it goes, the result will be unprecedented regional hardship." "How will the new South African government transform the migrant labour system? How will the mining industry combine the wealth-generating capacity of this sector with a recognition of workers' rights and dignity?" "Based on a conference which brought together South African and international scholars and labour experts, this collection puts forward alternative policies and principles."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved