"We are very happy with the processes that are unfolding," Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini told a media briefing at the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council in Centurion, Pretoria.

However, while happy with government's intervention, he said negotiations on the details of the pay package offer would continue late into the night.

The unions would then approach the doctors in the unions for a mandate on whether to accept the offer or not.

"We are happy about the detail, but let's get that detail taken to the membership to respond," he said.

In the meantime, Cosatu urged striking doctors to return to work.

"We call upon all our members to show restraint and give the negotiations a chance. More specifically we call on doctors and other workers involved in current sporadic actions to return to provide a service to our people."

Cosatu was reacting to an announcement on a revised pay package for doctors announced by Motsoaledi earlier on Wednesday.

Outlining the various packages being negotiated at the bargaining council, Motsoaledi told a media conference the government did not have enough money to increase doctors' salaries by 50 percent across-the-board - as unions had demanded.

The new packages would cost the government more than R1 billion and would be implemented as of 1 July, if accepted by the SA Medical Association, an affiliate of Cosatu.

Sapa

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