Although rising inflation figures are placing more and more pressure on employees of Gauteng, one of the best wage increases of the year is implemented for employees of BHP Billiton’s Hillside Aluminium this month. In terms of a three-year agreement concluded in 2007, this year’s wage increase has been calculated on the CPIX figure for July this year plus a 2% improvement factor. This means that employees will receive a wage increase of 15% this year.

Apart from the rand value in employees’ pockets, Solidarity also welcomes the commitment that Hillside Aluminium has made to its employees with this wage increase. “This increase emphasises that Hillside realises the value of its employees and wants to retain their skills – an example which should be followed by other employees of Gauteng in the era of skills shortages,” says Kleynhans.