Hopes are rising that the world's biggest platinum producer, Angloplat, may soon be back at full capacity as efforts to end a pay dispute continue.

The firm has seen workers strike since the start of October as a result of wage increase negotiations, with miners holding out for bigger pay rises.

However, the trade union Solidarity revealed yesterday that it has now brought its dispute with Angloplat to an end after agreeing terms.

The union said it had accepted a deal whereby workers in the C band would receive a 7.75 per cent salary increase, eight per cent for those in band B and a 9.5 per cent increase for workers in the A band.

Solidarity spokesperson Reint Dykema said the increase would be backdated to July 30th and expressed disappointment at the industrial action.

“It is a pity that the trade unions at Anglo Platinum had to resort to industrial action to bring about an improvement in their salaries,” Dykema told Mining Weekly.

However, the National Union of Mineworkers has still not reached an agreement with Angloplat despite optimistic noises from those involved that a resolution might be possible.