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Johannesburg - Gold producers Evander Gold and Village Main Reef [JSE:VIL] have reached agreement with the NUM and the United Association of SA, the Chamber of Mines said on Wednesday.
Early settlements indicated that constructive outcomes could be reached, said the chamber's chief negotiator in the gold wage talks, Elize Strydom.
"That the producers and the unions can find one another in the interests of preserving these operations indicates our mutual desire to achieve an affordable and sustainable settlement," Strydom said in a statement.
"The settlements reached by these companies are [an] 8% increase in basic wages for category four and five employees, including rock drill operators.
"A 7.5% increase in basic wages for category six to eight employees, [including] miners, artisans, and officials," Strydom said.
The National Union of Mineworkers said the settlements were mine-specific and did not change the dynamics of the strike in other mines.
"The workers at those mines agreed to those terms and understand what it means for them," spokesperson Lesiba Seshoka said.
Earlier, Seshoka vehemently denied reports that the union was ready to settle on a 10% increase on wages.
"We just said we would be willing to ease our demands but it must be a double-digit increase that is worth the workers' while.
"We are still at a [wage] increase of R2 300 for surface miners, and R3 000 for underground miners," he said.
Surface workers currently earn R4 700 per month and underground workers earn R5 000.
