Trade unions the National Union of Mineworkers and Uasa have signed a two-year wage agreement with gold miner Village Main Reef (VMR), effective July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023.
This follows an announcement by trade union Solidarity last week that it too had signed the agreement with VMR.
Under the terms of the agreement, Category 4 to 8 workers will receive a wage increase of R800 a year, while miners and artisans will get a 5% increase.
Lower-level officials will receive an R800 or 5% increase and officials will get a 5% increase on the standard rate of pay.
VMR will increase the current living out allowance to a maximum of R2 500 for all employees - R100 from September 1, 2021, and R100 from September 1, 2022.
The company will comply with the 2018 to 2021 minimum medical incapacity benefit of R60 000.
The company will provide employees with four months paid maternity leave in terms of applicable policies and procedures, with the option to average out over six months.
VMR will provide paternity leave as provided for in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
In the event of retrenchments, the company will pay a severance benefit as provided for three years in terms of the Mineral Council Agreement for the period 2018 to 2021.
In year one, the company will increase the minimum severance amount of R1 000 to the maximum amount and do the same in year two.