South Africa’s Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union announced that it plans to strike this week.

The union said its tens of thousands of members will strike at platinum and gold mines, raising concerns of more damage to Africa’s leading economy which has been hit hard by labor unrest, the Associated Press reported.

The strike by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union is scheduled to begin Thursday, Jan. 23. Analysts say the protest could affect more than half of the platinum production in South Africa, the world’s leading producer.

The Eurasia Group, an international consultancy, said it expects the strikes to last at least two weeks.

The protest for higher wages will affect major platinum operations run by the Lonmin, Anglo American and Impala firms.