Workers at the Obuasi mine of Anglo Gold Ashanti are threatening to embark on a massive demonstration on January 2, 2007 to protest a new pay system introduced by the parent company in South Africa.

According to the workers, the new pay system, known as EDICOS, is cumbersome to operate and has led to some anomalies in their salaries.

In an interview with Joy News, the Chairman of the workers union, Kwarko Mensah, said the EDICOS system is creating a lot of problems for the workers and the union in particular, adding that the union leaders have come in for sharp criticisms for not protecting the workers interests with regards to the problems associated with the pay system.

Mr. Mensah told Joy News that though the Obuasi management team is aware of the problem, they cannot do much about it.

A management source however told Joy News that the problem is receiving the best of attention and expressed the hope that the workers would see the need to rescind the demonstration.