FACTBOX-South Africa's economy facing wage strikes

July 15 (Reuters) - Africa's biggest economy faces a wave of industrial action with unions demanding pay increases above inflation. Employers say they cannot afford the raises because of the tough economic climate.

Below are details of sectors affected:

CONSTRUCTION

South African construction workers have agreed to end a week-long strike that has disrupted work on stadiums for the 2010 World Cup, the main union involved in the dispute said. But the signing of the deal was delayed on Wednesday.

Workers have been striking for a week, paralysing work on 2010 World Cup soccer stadiums and on the mass transit Gautrain high-speed rail project serving the area around Johannesburg.

Employers, including listed firms, failed in a bid to prevent the strike through legal action.

GOLD

Workers in the gold sector on Tuesday rejected the latest offer by gold producers of a rise of between 8 and 10 percent, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said. The union, South Africa's biggest, said a strike was "highly likely".

The NUM is demanding a 15 percent wage hike compared to consumer inflation of 8 percent and argues that gold prices have been close to record highs.

Three South African unions are holding talks with gold producers under the guidance of a mediator after failing to agree on wage increases.

The unions are due to meet on July 21 for a final session of negotiations before deciding whether to declare a strike.

South African gold producers including AngloGold Ashanti (ANGJ.J), Gold Fields (GFIJ.J) and Harmony (HARJ.J) negotiate as one under the country's Chamber of Mines.

PLATINUM The NUM has also rejected a 6.5 percent wage offer by Impala Platinum (IMPJ.J), the world's second largest producer of the precious metal, after demanding a wage increase of 20 percent.

The NUM now wants a mediator to resolve the dispute, and has threatened a strike that will affect platinum output and could affect prices.

Wage talks with bigger rival Anglo Platinum (AMSJ.J) are also ongoing without any strike threat yet.