More than half of the 1,200 employees at the Ekapa diamond mines in South Africa's Northern Cape Province embarked on an indefinite strike on August 7.
The workers organised by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) went on strike, expressing their dissatisfaction with the meagre wages that they are being paid, according to Peoples Dispatch.
The workers are demanding a 17% wage increase, as well as a competitive entry-level salary of R17,500 ($930).
Furthermore, the workers have requested a single ex gratia payment of R10,000 ($530).
The workers also requested an increase in the monthly housing allowance and medical allowance to R2850 ($151.3) and R2650 ($140.6), respectively.
The counteroffer from Ekapa consisted of a 6.5% increment in wages along with the security of a three-year contract.
Meanwhile, police used water cannons and tear gas on August 10 to disperse workers who were protesting outside of mines that were previously owned by the De Beers mining company.
A regional organiser for NUMSA Tshepo Mokhele, who attended the protest, was quoted as saying that the police later apprehended a total of 43 individuals.
The employees were later granted bail.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
