Harmony said Monday that the dispute with NUM and its Randfontein operations had been resolved, with striking employees due to return to work Monday evening after a 12 day strike.
The parties agreed to establish a joint working party consisting of representatives from both parties to come up with a detailed programme to find a sustainable long term solution to the issue of an accommodation allowance.
The parties agreed to increase living out allowances to R500 per month.
This amount would be increased with the same percentage as agreed to at annual wage increases to achieve an amount of R600 by January 2005.
Said Harmony’s chief executive, Bernard Swanepoel: ”We wanted an agreement focusing on a total sustainable long term solution for our employees’ accommodation needs and not just throwing money at about 20% of the labour force, who are neither home owners or hostel dwellers.
”Increasing living out allowances to bring it in line with what it costs us to accommodate employees living in the hostel was also a given.
”Limiting the percentage increase to the annual wage increases over the next two and a half years allows the mine to plan for these costs accordingly.” – Sapa