Harare – A 3% wage increase settlement agreed by Zimbabwean platinum and diamond mineworkers and their employers has provided the miners - which include Rio Tinto, Impala Platinum [JSE:IMP], Aquarius Platinum [JSE:AQP] and Anglo Platinum [JSE:AMS] – with a temporary labour dispute respite.
Mineworker union leaders in Zimbabwe said the settlement falls way below the 10% members were asking for. This paves the way for a potential showdown over wage increases before the end of the year, union executives said.
According to a note being circulated by the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, the least-paid platinum and diamond mine worker in Zimbabwe will now earn about $242 a month after the latest increase. Last year, mining labour unions accused platinum companies of “being in luxury” and failing to pay their employees more.