Construction workers at Mpumalanga’s Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit – which will host some 2010 World Cup games – have resumed work after resolving their problems with their employer.

The workers went on strike for the second time last Friday in a protest over project bonuses.

The protest was on the back of the first protest two weeks before when workers downed tools for what they said was ‘non-adherence’ by the employer to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

But the strike was temporarily suspended after agreement that the workers go back to work while the employer and the workers’ union tried to resolve the problem.

But last week there was a communication breakdown while the management of the Mbombela Stadium Joint Venture – the builders of the stadium – and the workers’ representatives, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), were in a meeting to discuss working conditions and project bonuses.

The union wants bonuses to be increased to R2000 this year and R1500 in June next year. They also want the current hourly rate to be increased by R3 to R10,80.

“We have always been confident that the two parties would find a solution,” said Desmond Golding, Mpumalanga’s 2010 director.