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January 9, 2021Date: 4 January 2021
Media release: immediate
Textile Sector wage increases become law today
Wage increases negotiated by the Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) during lockdown last year, for thousands of South African textile workers, become national law today.
This is because the Minister of Employment & Labour, Thembalani Waltermade Nxesi, had published these new wage increases in the government gazette on 24 December 2020.
In terms of the provisions of this Government Gazette (Number R 1398), these wage increases become binding from the second Monday after the date of gazettal. This is today.
Accordingly, these new wage increases now cover all workers in the following textile sectors, nationally: manufactured fibres, home textiles, blankets, non-woven, wool and mohair, and worsteds.
All these wage increases were negotiated with the various textile employer associations, under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council, and on virtual platforms.
Wage disputes in the cotton- and carpets textile sub-sectors have not yet been resolved. In the woven & crochet sub-sector, it was agreed to commence negotiations early this year, and we will now commence this process.
However, most textile workers have received these now gazetted wage increases last year already, by virtue of the effect of party-to-party collective agreements.
The effect of the gazettal is that these wage increases are now legally binding nationally, on ALL employers and employees in the affected textile sub-sectors.
About 13 500 textile workers will benefit from these new and now nationally legally binding wage increases.
For SACTWU, this is an important development to advance the living wage aspirations of all our members.
SACTWU is an affiliate of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).
Issued by
André Kriel
SACTWU
GENERAL SECRETARY
If further information or comment is required, kindly contact SACTWU’s National Collective Bargaining Officer, Mr Fachmy Abrahams, on cell number 081 472 5841.
