Labour unions and employers in the steel sector are expected to be back at the Metal and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council on Wednesday. This as the ongoing 2024 wage talks are expected to resume. Workers belonging to NUMSA and NUM are pushing for a cost of living wage increase of 7%, a minimum wage of R25 and a housing fund set up for workers. The Steel and Engineering industrial Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) represents employers in the sector and wants the parties consider rolling over the current agreement using the current agreement of 6% as a base for negotiations. The industry was hit by a strike action over wages in 2021 when workers downed tools in a wage dispute that dragged for nearly three weeks costing the industry more than R500 million in lost revenue. Pabi Moloi is in conversation with Num's Deputy General Secretary - Mpho Phakedi .