A deal ending the five-month platinum miners’ strike in South Africa remains up in the air.
The leading union says it’s accepted the mining houses offer.
But both they and the world’s largest producers of the precious, strategic metal say there will have to be further talks this week.
Mines Minister Nkoako Ramatlhodi is upbeat about a settlement ending the strike driving into recession the country that produces 80 percent of the world’s platinum.
Ramatlhodi admits the devil remains in the detail.
Technical adviser to the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union Brian Ashley says they wrote to the mining houses on Monday accepting their offer.
It will double miners’ wages by 2017 but still falls short of their demand for 800 euros a month.
Ashley says the miners are expected to go back underground by next Monday.
Spokesman for Impala Platinum, Anglo American Platinum and Lonmin Johan Theron says there’s still some work to be done.
The miners want to get their increase within three years. The owners want to stretch it out over five
Meetings scheduled for last weekend to agree the details didn’t happen.
Amcu’s in court seeking to embark on a strike in the gold sector. Its members there are also demanding a minimum monthly wage of 800 euros.
Gold producers say a strike based on such as a demand could devastate the industry.