Reuters reported that South African diversified miner Exxaro has raised the offer for wage increases for workers at its coal mines to 9.9% increasing the chances of a deal later this week.

Solidarity union which represents nearly 1,400 workers at Exxaro Tshikondeni, Grootegeluk and Leeuwpan mines said wage negotiations with the miner had been going on since July.

The union declared a dispute with the company at the end of last month and referred the matter to the conciliation authority.

Mr Jaco Kleynhans Solidarity spokesman said "Negotiations at Exxaro Coal have been extremely drawn out and at one point a strike was threatening to be the only way out. However, Solidarity is now positive that an agreement is in fact within reach."

Other coal industry employers agreed to pay an average increase of 9% to 10% and to raise wages for entry level workers by 11%.

(Sourced from Reuters)