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Business Daily: African mining

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04/02/2013

African mining

BBC World Service - Business Daily, African mining

Can a more equal distribution of wealth stem the tide of unrest in South Africa's mines?

Can a more equal distribution of wealth stem the tide of unrest in South Africa's mines? And what is the best way of negotiating a pay rise?

Mining companies in South Africa lost hundreds of millions of dollars from disruption caused by unrest last year. The Marikana platinum mine was the scene of shootings which claimed over forty lives during strikes which halted production for more than a month. Last month, Anglo American Platinum revealed plans to mothball two mines, sell another and cut 14,000 jobs. 

This week a key conference on African mining takes place in Cape Town. BBC correspondent Peter Biles explains the reasons for unrest and the response from government. Trevor Manuel, South Africa's minister for strategic planning, talks about why some miners face huge debts, with as much as 50% deductions from their wages for loan repayments. 

Personal finance expert Ramit Sethi advises on how to ask for a payrise. 

And Lucy Kellaway, from the Financial Times suggests that worrying about stress is stressful.

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