Sibanye-Stillwater has revised its wage offer in an attempt to end a seven-week long industrial action that threatens to cripple production at its gold operations and has cost workers nearly R1bn in wages.
Describing it as a final settlement offer, the world’s largest platinum group metals producer said in a statement on Friday that entry-level workers would now receive an increase of 7.8% in basic wages in year one, 7.2% in year two and 6.8% in year three. In addition, workers would get a R50 increase in the living out allowance each year.
The revised offer still falls short of demands tabled by the National Union of Mineworkers and Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), which collectively represent about 25,000 of the 31,000 employees at the gold operations.
The two unions are demanding an increase of R1,000, which amounts to a 9.8% rise in year one, 8.8% in year two and 8.2% in year three for entry-level workers, which include surface and underground miners.
The final settlement offer will increase the mining group’s wage bill by R1.67bn over the three-year period, excluding concessions made in respect of non-wage demands, it said.
“Our offer is fair, takes into account inflationary living costs, considers the sustainability of the SA gold operations and is in the interests of all stakeholders,” spokesperson James Wellsted said.
Striking workers have lost R990m in wages so far, according to the mining group.
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