De Beers recently awarded a nine percent wage adjustment for its lowest-ranked employees, after workers had initially demanded 13 percent while the mining giant offered six percent.By comparison, Debswana's non-management workers this year received reviews ranging from five to six percent depending on salary bands, as part of a three-year wage deal dating back to the 2011 financial year.The financial year 2013/14, which began in January, marks the final year of the three-year wage deal.
Botswana Mine Workers Union (BMWU) deputy secretary general Sebataladi Ramoitoi told BusinessWeek that consultations with workers for the 2014/15 wage negotiations would start soon."It appears workers are against this model and we are due to consult our members and obtain the mandate from them," he said. "New salary negotiations are starting with Debswana next year in February. Most of the time, issues are raised when wage negotiations start and there have been few this time around (due to the three year arrangement)".
