ZTWU seeks govt aid to revive Bulawayo textile industry

13 Dec '12

2 min read

Noting that the textile industry in the city of Bulawayo has totally collapsed, the Zimbabwe Textile Workers’ Union (ZTWU) has urged the Government to allocate a special budget for revitalizing the industry.

During a media briefing at the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) office, ZTWU Regional Officer Tofarasei Chiware informed that while some of the firms in the region have already ceased operations, some others have slipped in to judicial administration.

The firms that are currently operational have also downsized employees. Several firms like Merlin and National Blankets, which then employed around 2,000 workers now operate with only 100 workers, he added.

The textile industry has been in despair since times of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme as firms started downsizing since 1990s, Mr. Chiware said.

A number of Bulawayo-based firms including Cotton Printers, Silkwood Prints, Andys Suppliers, Coats Zimbabwe, Dreyton Textiles and David Whitehead have shut down, he added.

Some other firms like Zimbabwe Grain Bag, Pension Knitwear, International Screen Printers, Cotton Waste, Meville Knitwear, Helio Textile & Polypackaging, Miller and Thomson, Dian Holdings, Universal Bags and also the firm under judicial administration – Textile Mills, all now employ less than 100 workers.

The ZTWU official alleged that the Government has not taken a serious note of the situation in the textile industry, and has failed to act, which has led to closure of several firms.

Hence, rather than sticking to the Distressed Industries and Marginalised Areas Fund, which has no legal endorsement, the Government must allocate a special budget for perking up the industry, he noted.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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