Impala Platinum Holdings, which 87% in Zimbabwe Platinum Mines (Zimplats), faces a strike by 18 000 workers, the National Union of Mineworkers said on Monday.

"NUM stewards will on Thursday, August 5 give feedback to the workers and it is likely that strike action will hit Impala," the union's chief negotiator at the company, Eddie Majadibodu, said in a statement.

The move followed the breakdown of talks, facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA), between the company and the union.

Among the union's demands were a 10% across-the-board wage increase plus a housing allowance. It also wanted the
equalisation of contributions to the provident fund.

The company, however, had offered an eight percent across-the-board increase.

"We gave the company the last opportunity, as the CCMA requested, but they squashed that very last opportunity."

Company spokesperson Bob Gilmour confirmed talks had "fallen through".

After the union had talked to its members it would approach the company.

"So we'll just take it from there."