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South African miners have welcomed a deal to end a weeks-long illegal strike that cost the lives of 45 people, but some observers worried the agreement would set a precedent.
The National Union of Mineworkers said the wildcat strike at Lonmin's Marikana mine and the resulting deal could prompt other miners to act without going through union-approved channels.
NUM general secretary Frans Baleni said the normal bargaining processes have been compromised.
Under the deal signed late on Tuesday, miners will return to work on Thursday in return for pay rises of between 11-22 percent, plus bonuses.
Other gold and platinum miners in South Africa's key mining sector have already taken up wage demands as unrest forced the closure of several other mines.
Lonmin, a Britain-based platinum mining giant, defended the deal that brought an end, for now at least , to the labour dispute.
