Rustenburg - The Chamber of Mines will meet with unions representing workers in the gold and coal mining sector to discuss proposed wage demands for 2013. The Chamber's senior employment relations executive Elize Strydom said the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) tabled a wage demand on Friday. The NUM wants surface workers to receive a minimum of R7 000 a month, and underground and open-cast workers R8 000. For all other categories, the union demanded 15 percent. NUM general-secretary Frans Baleni said rising inflation inspired the demands. He said the union submitted additional demands relating to allowances for housing and commuting. Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) announced earlier this month it would cut 6 000 jobs instead of the 14 000 it predicted earlier. This after 44 deaths near Lonmin Platinum's Marikana operations during a pay strike, and a prolonged industry-wide strike last year.

Sapa