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The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has settled its 2022/2024 wage negotiations in the Woven Cotton textile sub-sector. 

This new 2-year collective agreement was successfully concluded under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC),  with employers represented by the South African Cotton & Textile Processing Employers' Association (SACTPEA). 

This collective agreement is effective from 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2024.

Year 1 of this new 2-year collective agreement covers the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. 

Year 2 covers the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.

For Year 1, our members in the Woven Cotton textile sub-sector will receive a 7% wage increase.

For Year 2, wage increases will be pegged at the same rand value as that which is applicable for this year. 

The total package increase is actually worth more than 7%. 

This is because the following additional substantive improvements in terms and conditions of employment have also been agreed to, in addition to the wage increases:

Annual bonus:

With effect from this year, the annual bonus payment will increase from 3 weeks' wages to 3.5 weeks' wages for workers with between 1 years’ and 3 years' service, and to 4 weeks' wages for those workers with more than 3 years’ service.

Workers with less than 1 year's service will receive a pro-rated annual bonus of 2 weeks.

The annual bonus is compulsory, and employers are required to pay it out before the end of December.

Family Responsibility Leave:

Employees will be provided with options for better Family Responsibility Leave provisions, to cover more family circumstances in addition to the birth of a child.

Regarding COVID-19, it was agreed to make arrangements that enable employees to be vaccinated, on a voluntary basis. 

The signature process for this new collective agreement was completed on Wednesday this week.

The settlement was achieved after 4 negotiation rounds, which commenced on 25 April this year, and concluded on 22 June 2022.

The now signed new collective agreement will be submitted to the Minister of Employment & Labour, with a request for its gazettal and extension to non-party employers.

This collective agreement will benefit approximately 6 000 Woven Cotton textile workers, nationally.  

Issued by SACTWU general secretary SACTWU