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Johannesburg - The South African Chamber of Mines said on Friday all unions representing workers in the gold sector have rejected the final wage increase offer from bullion producers, setting the stage for protracted negotiations.
The Chamber of Mines - which negotiates on behalf of gold producers - had offered a wage increase of up to 17% last week, while the two biggest unions are demanding raises of around 70% to more than 100%.
"None of the unions accepted the offer," said Charmane Russell, spokesperson for the Chamber.
Russell said the rejected offer had been the "final" one from the gold companies. She said the chamber was scheduled to meet with unions on Wednesday to discuss their pay demands.
Unions officials were not immediately available for comment.
Lack of progress in next week's talks would raise the prospect of major industrial action in the sector already battling rising costs and weak gold prices.
Spot gold price, which has dropped nearly 20% from its January peak, is hovering at levels last seen in 2010, pressured by expectations that the US central bank was well on course to raise interest rates this year.
