Chile offers striking workers a 9.5 percent raise

(CNN) -- The government of Chile has offered nearly half a million striking municipal workers a 9.5 percent wage increase and the Congress is expected to vote on it Thursday, officials said.

The 450,000 workers, who have been on strike since Monday, are asking for a 14.5 percent pay increase. The government had initially offered a 6.5 percent increase.

A 9.5 percent increase would be the highest since the 9.9 percent accorded in 1997, El Mercurio newspaper reported.

Striking workers have taken to the streets this week, marching in most of the nation's major cities.

The nation was paralyzed for two days last week when the workers went on strike. The public employees have not set an end date for the strike.

Because of the strike, garbage is piling up on streets, tax and fee collection has stopped and public health and education are practically paralyzed. Even weddings and autopsies are not being performed.

All About Chile • Labor Strikes and Disputes