LUSAKA, Zambia, Feb 06, 2012 (Dow Jones) -- More than 2,000 unionized workers at Luanshya Copper Mine in Zambia have been awarded a 16% wage increase as part of ongoing negotiations to improve working conditions in the country's mining industry, a union official said Monday.

The miners' unions and Luanshya Copper Mines management agreed on the increase Friday, effective Jan. 1, National Union of Miners and Allied Workers Mundia Sikufele said by telephone.

"We agreed with Luanshya mine management for 16%," said Sikufele. "We are happy at this although it hasn't been easy, given the workers' expectations for much better wages."

The deal comes barely a week after more than 3,000 workers at Zambia's third largest miner, Mopani Copper Mines, agreed a 17% wage increase, and not a fortnight after workers at Konkola Copper Mines also accepted a 17% wage increase.

The agreements follows weeks of labor unrest in the copper-rich nation, which briefly halted operations at some key mines.

Luanshya is part of China Nonferrous Metal Corp. (8306.HK).