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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Diavik Diamond Mine will close for six weeks in both the summer and winter this year, during which time workers will be temporarily laid off.

The shutdowns are scheduled for July 14 - Aug. 24, and Dec. 1, 2009 to Jan. 11, 2010, the company announced Monday.

Workers at Diavik will have to stop - twice - this year after the company recently announced a summer and winter closure of mine operations in an effort to curb costs. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

Last December, the mine's Rio Tinto owners announced considerable cutbacks on the number of contract workers slated for underground construction work at Diavik for 2009, which it has now delayed again.

"Those actions from December have carried us through until now. They've sustained us for the past three or four months but the volatility of the global economic conditions persists," said Doug Ashbury, acting spokesperson for the Diavik mine.

"We're doing this to ensure we align our business to the global economic situation," he added.

Ashbury said the mine is doing everything it can to minimize the impacts of the shutdowns on workers and ensure everybody is treated fairly. The shutdowns are scheduled during the most popular vacation times, allowing workers the option of booking paid vacation during the shutdown period.

"There's other options as well. (One) would be employment insurance and another option would be to average out their pay over the remainder of the year," added Ashbury, saying Diavik is currently working with employees to find what option works best for them.

Diavik also announced it would accelerate the planned transition to a smaller workforce as the mine moves from its current open pit operations to underground mining, set to begin in 2012.

"Well right now we have about 830 people and what we will ultimately have (by 2012) is a workforce of approximately 600," said Ashbury.

Ashbury said Diavik hopes to achieve the accelerated reduction through "natural attrition." As some employees leave their position - whether it be through retirement or to accept another position within the company - their spot will not be replaced.

"Our goal is to ensure the least number of people are affected through a permanent layoff," said Ashbury.

The company hopes Monday's announcements will allow it to "preserve its strength" and retain its core workforce.