The
world's biggest platinum producer, Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), has
agreed to reinstate the 12,000 South African miners sacked for taking part in
an unofficial strike. It had agreed to
take back the miners if they returned to work by Tuesday, the National Union of
Mineworkers said.
South
Africa's mining sector has been hit by a series of wildcat strikes, which have
cost millions of dollars. Dozens of
people have been killed in strike-related violence. The miners were sacked
three weeks ago. "They agreed to
reinstate all the dismissed workers on the provision that they return to work
by Tuesday," NUM spokesman Lesiba Seshoka told the Reuters news agency. He
said he expected workers would return to their posts and "that will mean
the end of the strike".
Amplats
said in a statement: "Employees who do not return to work on Tuesday...
will remain dismissed and/or be subjected to the illegal strike disciplinary
action and will not be eligible for any of the benefits mentioned above." The
company said it was offering the miners a one-off hardship payment of $230
(£140) to facilitate their return.
Strikes
at South Africa's platinum, gold and coal mines are estimated to have cost the
country more than $1bn. More than 40
people died in violent clashes between police and striking workers at a
platinum mine in August. South Africa is one of the world's biggest producers
of precious metals. Analysts say workers across the industry are disaffected
with the NUM and other mainstream unions, regarding them as too close to the
employers.
The
workers had been demanding 6,000 rand ($1,800; £1,100) in monthly pay, more
than three times their current average salary
BBC News
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