Johannesburg - Unions have until next Tuesday to consider the Chamber of Mines' revised offer of 5.5% in the gold sector wage negotiations, trade union Solidarity said.
"The offer is linked to a gain share scheme," general secretary Gideon du Plessis said in a statement on Tuesday.
The offer was up from the chamber's opening offer on 4% in July.
Participating in the negotiations were producers AngloGold Ashanti, Evander Gold Mine, Gold Fields, Harmony Gold, Rand Uranium, Sibanye Gold, and Village Main Reef.
Unions involved were the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, the National Union of Minewokers, Solidarity, and the United Association of SA.
Du Plessis said all parties would need to think of creative solutions and be prepared to make concessions in order to reach a settlement before the facilitation process expired next Saturday.
"As a result, the employers will have to offer more than what is budgeted for, and unions will have to get a mandate from their members to demand less than what our members' current expectations are to avoid a strike."