The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) warmly welcomes the gazettal and extension of our country's 2nd COVID-19 Lockdown Collective Agreement, this time for textile workers.

This textile industry collective agreement was negotiated between SACTWU and 10 textile employer associations, under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC).

The parties had concluded an agreement late on 26 March 2020, just a few hours before South Africa's lockdown came into effect at midnight that evening.

This textile collective agreement was published in the government gazette today, by the Minister of Employment & Labour, Minister Thembelani Nxesi.

It guarantees about 20 000 textile workers, who are employed within the registered scope of the NTBC, full pay during this current lockdown period in South Africa.

This textile lockdown collective agreement follows hot on the heels of a similar collective agreement which SACTWU had concluded for its 50 000 clothing industry members, on 23 March 2020.

We acknowledge the patriotism which our employer colleagues, who themselves are struggling under poor current economic  conditions, have displayed.

We hope that these COVID-19 income protection agreements will provide a source of comfort and peace of mind for many of our members and their families, during this very difficult period which our industry and country currently faces.

We will continue to pursue COVID-19 full income protection for our other members who are not yet covered by such collective agreements. 

 

Issued by The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union