JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Chrome miner Samancor Chrome has concluded a three-year wage agreement with the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, the National Union of Mines (NUM) and Solidarity at its Ferrometals, Middelburg Ferrochrome and Tubatse Ferrochrome smelters, as well as with the NUM and UASA at its Samancor Western Chrome and Samancor Eastern Chrome mines in Rustenburg.
Employees at the mines would receive a 12% average increase in the first year, while smelter employees would receive an average increase of 10.5%.
The guaranteed increase for the second and third years of the agreement was 6% respectively; however, based on a productivity improvement model, a potential increase of 10% for each year could be granted.
Solidarity noted that certain production targets had been determined as part of Samancor's new productivity enhancement model.
“[The productivity targets] serve not only as an incentive to the workers, but they also ensure that workers are rewarded for their hard work. They further enable the company to reach its targets,” said Solidarity metal industry head Marius Croucamp.