Johannesburg - Striking workers in the cotton textile industry have accepted a wage proposal, the SA Clothing and Textile Workers' Union said on Tuesday.
"Our 3 000 [members] have accepted the recommended settlement following Labour Relations Act section 150 intervention by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration," general secretary Andre Kriel said in a statement.
The final settlement was an 8.5% increase backdated to July 1 this year.
It would be a two-year agreement, with a further 8.5% increase effective from July 1 2015, said Kriel.
The union's final wage demand was 8.75%, while the employers were offering seven percent.
The final settlement was completed late on Monday afternoon.
"Employers have committed to a high level engagement on the establishment of a separate bargaining chamber for industrial textiles workers," said Kriel.
"Our members are due to return to work as from today [Tuesday], and we are optimistic that a full return to work will be secured by Thursday morning."
The full wage agreement would be signed later this week, he said.