De Beers is anticipating a strike of its workers in the South African region, following a wage dispute recently. The workers union - National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) had demanded that the company increase the wages by 13.5 percent for 2008, instead of the company’s proposed 11 percent. %% The NUM said that the workers would stage a walkout on July 24 to communicate their protest against De Beers’ failure to resolve the dispute. %% De Beers currently employs 3,400 workers who are members of the NUM, the country’s biggest mineworkers’ union. The company is fearing mining and other operations coming to a standstill if the workers stage a protest.