Bloomberg reported that employees at mines in Zambia,Africa's biggest copper producer are demanding pay increases of as much as 50%for 2013.
Mr Chishimba Nkole president of mineworkers Union of Zambia President said that talks with companies began in October and are set to conclude by the end of the year,when the current wage agreement expires.The talks affect Glencore International Plc which owns the Mopani copper mine,Vedanta Resources Plc's Konkola Copper Mines unit and Jinchuan Group's Chibuluma mine.
Mr Nkole said that while pay demands at most operations are for increases of less than 50%we feel there is the justification in some cases where the wages are very low for raises of that percentage about 360 kilometers north of Lusaka the capital.
According to the US Geological Survey,Zambia produced 668,000 metric tons of copper last year,ranking it the world's sixth largest miner of the metal.Output of cobalt was 6,600 tonnes placing the southern African fifth in the world.
Mr Alexander Chikwanda finance minister of Zambia said that the country economy will probably grow 7%next year and inflation won't exceed 6%by the end of 2013.
Mr Nkole said that power supplier Copperbelt Energy Corporation and China Nonferrous Metals Company's Luanshya mine are also involved.The talks don't apply to First Quantum Minerals Limited where the Zambian Industrial Relations Court in September awarded workers a 13%increases this year and 12%in 2013.
He said that"It's not anything it's the usual way we proceed.Management will make an offer and negotiations will follow declining to give reasons for the demands."
