SACTWU WELCOMES SLOW DOWN IN JOB LOSSES IN CLOTHING, TEXTILE & LEATHER INDUSTRIES

The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) welcomes the significant slowdown in job losses in the domestic clothing, textile and leather sectors.

A report tabled at the union's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held last week, shows that the industry continues to stabilise. The union's Job Loss Database (which tracks actual job losses in the industry and correlates it with STATS SA information) shows that the extent of job losses in the industry has continued to decline over the last four years. For example, for 2010, a total of 10 119 actual job losses were recorded. This dropped significantly by almost half to 5 338 jobs lost in the subsequent year (2011), further to 5 330 in 2012 and much sharper to 3 416 last year.

This means that, for the 12-month period from January to December 2010 compared with the same 12 month period for 2013, the rate of job losses in the industry has declined by a whopping 66%.

The union ascribes this to more decisive government support for the industry, as referred to by President Zuma in his 2014 State of the Nation address, coupled with the union's aggressive "Save Jobs" campaign with its industrial, trade and procurement components. This includes the conclusion of local procurement agreements with a number of entities, the latest of which was the one signed between SACTWU and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival two weeks ago.

Statement issued by Andre Kriel, SACTWU General Secretary, February 24 2014

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