The platinum mine where South African police killed 34 striking workers says it will not fire any survivors of the shooting but warns the prolonged strike threatens 40,000 jobs.

London-registered Lonmin PLC says workers are being threatened with violence so only 6.5 percent of them reported for duty Tuesday. The strike is in its fourth week.

Scores of miners gathered outside the mine Tuesday , demanding a minimum wage of R12,500 ($1,560) a month.

Some workers at the world’s third-largest platinum mine told the South African Press Agency that they are too scared to return to work. They said the no work-no pay strike has forced many into the hands of money lenders.

Lonmin warned “an indefinite strike will ultimately threaten the jobs of more than 40,000 workers.”