Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013

19. Employee benefit expense

The following employee benefit expenses are included in cost of products and services sold, administration, exploration, research and development and property, plant and equipment:

  2015  2014 
Wages and salaries $397,730  $353,254 
Statutory and company benefits 65,936  66,456 
Equity-settled share-based compensation [note 25] 22,148  21,048 
Expenses related to defined benefit plans [note 26] 5,003  7,605 
Contributions to defined contribution plans [note 26] 17,961  17,274 
Cash-settled share-based compensation [note 25] (1,011) (1,616)
Total $507,767  $464,021