From Reuters

Glencore Xstrata Plc sacked 1,000 workers across three of its chrome mines in South Africa for going on illegal strike last week, bringing those operations to a standstill, the company said on Monday.

The dispute at the mines near Steelpoort, northeast of Johannesburg in Limpopo province, added to long-running friction in the mining industry that has caused production to slow, raised concerns about Africa’s largest economy and sent the rand to fresh four-year lows.

Chromium is a raw material used to produce ferrochrome, a key ingredient to make stainless steel.

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