SA clothing workers to get wage hike from September

12 Jun '15

1 min read

Workers in the South African clothing sector would receive a wage hike from September 1 this year, following an agreement between the clothing employers and the COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU).

The new wage rates, agreed at a normal meeting of the clothing industry bargaining council, emanate from a two year wage agreement signed with clothing employers in mid-September last year.

As per the agreement, SACTWU members in non-metro areas such as Ladysmith, Isithebe, Despatch, South Coast, Botshabelo, Paarl, Caledon, QwaQwa, Babalegi, Newcastle etc. will receive a 10 per cent wage increase, effective 1 September 2015, the normal due date for annual wage increases in the industry.

In metro areas like Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Port Elizabeth, workers will receive a 7.4 per cent wage increase.

“This wage agreement settlement means a substantial R309 million (approx. $25 million) cash injection into the South African economy, over the 12-month period commencing 1st September this year,” said SACTWU general secretary Andre Kriel in a statement.

Around 85,000 people working in the South African garment industry will benefit from the agreement, according to SACTWU. (RKS)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India