Published: 11 September 2013

Johannesburg -The Chamber of Mines said on Wednesday that wage settlements in the gold sector would amount to R1.5bn in extra costs for companies over the next 12 months.

Companies and unions agreed to wage hikes of up to 8% last week, ending a three-day strike.

Hardline union Amcu, which represents almost 20% of the gold workforce, has not signed up and said its members have given it a mandate to strike.

But Elize Strydom, the chamber's chief negotiator, said that since most of the workforce had signed legally binding agreements, companies can apply the wage settlement unilaterally to all workers.

Any strike would be considered illegal and workers taking part could be fired.
- Reuters

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