The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said on Thursday it has demanded a 15% wage increase from diamond giant De Beers.
The NUM also demanded that the diamond miner ensured the lowest paid workers received a minimum of R5000 a month.
Other demands put on the table included that underground workers be paid an underground allowance of 10% of their basic salary and that artisans and other employees with scarce skills be paid an allowance of 10% of their basic salary.
The NUM also wanted workers to be entitled to five days’ paid family responsibility leave and that male workers be given three days’ paternity leave.
The union said pregnant women workers should be given four months’ paid maternity leave at 100% of their monthly salary.
It also wanted De Beers to pay 70% of medical aid contributions while the employee paid 30%.
The union demanded that all workers — irrespective of their job categories — be entitled to a housing subsidy of R3 500 or 25% of the monthly repayment of their mortgage bonds.
The NUM represented the majority of workers at De Beers.
De Beers spokesperson Tom Tweedy said the company had received the NUM’s wage increase demands last week.
”The company will consider this after calculating the impact of the demand and formulating a mandate for discussion,” Tweedy told Sapa. — Sapa