Zimbabwe Mine Companies Said to Be Asked to Triple Some Pay

Mining companies operating in Zimbabwe and the main labor union in the industry have reached a deadlock in pay talks for 2014 after the workers group demanded that wages be more than doubled, two people familiar with the negotiations said.

The Chamber of Mines, which represents companies, and the Associated Mine Workers Union of Zimbabwe, which represents 34,000 workers, met on Nov. 26 and as a result of the deadlock, the dispute has now been referred to the government’s National Employment Council, the people said, asking not to be identified because the dispute hasn’t been made public. The council will meet on Jan. 15 and will probably refer the matter to an arbitrator, the people said.