On Friday in Johannesburg, the National Union of Mineworkers entered into an agreement with Gold Fields that would increase its members wages by 21 percent over the next three years. In the first year, the base wage would increase to $583 a month for workers. Gold Fields has decided to increase its workers' wages in an effort to attract more skilled workers.
See "South Africa's NUM, Gold Fields Agree 21 Pct Wage Increase", Reuters, April 9, 2015