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The National Labour commission (NLC) has directed mining company Newmont to stop any plans to sack 600 of its workers. Newmont was dragged to the commission by the Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU) over the move to sack the workers. Newmont has announced it will have to lay off the workers by the end of the second quarter of this year as part of efforts to improve and ensure cost and operational efficiency. Both parties presented their case to the NLC yesterday on the matter. But the NLC yesterday ruled that Newmont should rather seek arbitration on the matter with the mine workers union. Deputy General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers Union Eric Kwabena Gyima tells Citi Business News both parties have been directed to get back to the commission if arbitration fails. �The labour commission at the end of the meeting ruled that we should seek arbitration. On Friday both parties are to choose on the type of mediation they want, the commission has also ruled that if mediation fails we should return to them.� Mr. Gyima said. Meanwhile the Mineworkers Union has threatened to embark on an industrial action if Newmont ignores NLC�s ruling and goes ahead to sack 600 of its workers this year.