South Africa:
Lonmin platinum mine workers in South Africa ended their strike in return for pay rises of up to 22 percent, after a nearly six-week standoff that claimed 45 lives.
Under a deal hammered out after more than three weeks of talks, and signed late on Tuesday by both sides, the miners will go back to work at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) Thursday in return for raises of between 11-22 percent plus bonuses.
The industrial action that started on August 10 and spread to other platinum and gold mining companies had sparked social turmoil and fears about the economic impact on Africa's wealthiest country.
Amid the bitter standoff, police opened fire on striking miners, killing 34 on August 16 in the worst such shooting since the end of apartheid.
When news of the pay offer by the London-listed company was announced earlier Tuesday to workers at a stadium, thousands broke into song and dance, lifting their representatives on their shoulders in celebration.
A young man wrote on his palm "mission accomplished" and showed the message to television cameras.
After a round of fresh talks on Tuesday, a negotiator had announced in the afternoon that the workers had settled for a 22 per cent wage rise and a USD 245 one-off bonus from the owners of the world's third largest platinum mine.
"The workers are very happy with it," said Bishop Jo Seoka, the president of the South African Council of Churches, who had brokered the talks.
"And so we believe that what has happened here has been a victory really for the workers, and they're going to work on Thursday morning."
More negotiations involving the unions would kick off in October, he said.
Abey Kgotle, the company's executive director for external affairs, said in the evening: "Lonmin is very pleased to announce the conclusion of this very difficult negotiation that we had to go through."
He said the agreement "brings to an end a very painful five weeks all of us had to go through... It has been a very very tough journey but we thank the parties for the mature manner in which this negotiation went through."
Speaking about those killed, he said "we would like to conclude this agreement in the honour of all the deceased employees we had to bury".
Under a deal hammered out after more than three weeks of talks, and signed late on Tuesday by both sides, the miners will go back to work at 7:00 am (0500 GMT) Thursday in return for raises of between 11-22 percent plus bonuses.
The industrial action that started on August 10 and spread to other platinum and gold mining companies had sparked social turmoil and fears about the economic impact on Africa's wealthiest country.
Amid the bitter standoff, police opened fire on striking miners, killing 34 on August 16 in the worst such shooting since the end of apartheid.
When news of the pay offer by the London-listed company was announced earlier Tuesday to workers at a stadium, thousands broke into song and dance, lifting their representatives on their shoulders in celebration.
A young man wrote on his palm "mission accomplished" and showed the message to television cameras.
After a round of fresh talks on Tuesday, a negotiator had announced in the afternoon that the workers had settled for a 22 per cent wage rise and a USD 245 one-off bonus from the owners of the world's third largest platinum mine.
"The workers are very happy with it," said Bishop Jo Seoka, the president of the South African Council of Churches, who had brokered the talks.
"And so we believe that what has happened here has been a victory really for the workers, and they're going to work on Thursday morning."
More negotiations involving the unions would kick off in October, he said.
Abey Kgotle, the company's executive director for external affairs, said in the evening: "Lonmin is very pleased to announce the conclusion of this very difficult negotiation that we had to go through."
He said the agreement "brings to an end a very painful five weeks all of us had to go through... It has been a very very tough journey but we thank the parties for the mature manner in which this negotiation went through."
Speaking about those killed, he said "we would like to conclude this agreement in the honour of all the deceased employees we had to bury".
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
