Johannesburg - The National Union of Mineworkers said on Sunday it would seek pay hikes of up to 60% from the country's gold and coal producers in upcoming wage talks which are expected to be among the toughest ever.
NUM said it was seeking an entry-level minimum monthly wage of R7 000 for surface workers and R8 000 for those underground in a submission to the Chamber of Mines.
Elize Strydom, the industrial relations advisor at the Chamber of Mines, said the minimum wage for surface workers was currently R4 700 and for underground miners it was R5 000, so the demands for the latter were 60%.
NUM also said it wanted 15% hikes for "all other wage categories", which would refer to more experienced and skilled workers.