SACTWU hails increase in employment in textile industry

02 Jul '15

2 min read

South Africa’s quarterly employment survey (QES) shows that employment levels in the clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) sectors has increased, the COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) said in a press release.

SACTWU described it as an endorsement that government support for the industry, coupled with the union’s active campaign for jobs that continues to bear fruit. After a period of stabilisation following years of job losses, employment in the CTFL industry appears poised for growth, it said.

The data is based on the latest QES for the March 2015 quarter. It shows that there has been a year-on-year increase of 1.5 per cent in the number of employees across the CTFL industry from March 2014 to March 2015.

There has also been a 1.5 per cent increase in the number of employees from December 2014 to March 2015 (quarter to quarter).

In the period for the year from March 2014 to March 2015, total CTFL employment increase was from 87,386 to 88,657, a 1.5 per cent increase over the past year.

Over this period, the highest industry increase in the number of employees was in the leather sector which increased by 4.5 per cent, second highest was the footwear sector by 3.3 per cent, followed by the textile sector which increased by 1.5 per cent and then followed by the clothing sector with an increase of 0.8 per cent.

On a quarter to quarter basis, the CTLF industry has had a 1.5 per cent increase in the number of employees from December 2014 to March 2015. The highest quarterly increase was in the leather sector by 3.9 per cent, second highest was the textile sector by 2.9 per cent then clothing sector which increased by 1.5 per cent. The footwear sector had a decrease in the number of employed by 3.8 per cent over the last quarter, the statement said. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India