Cape Times - Job losses in the clothing industry had decreased by 66 percent over the past four years, Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) general secretary Andre Kriel said.
”A report tabled at the union’s national executive committee meeting shows that the industry continues to stabilise,” he said yesterday.
Kriel attributed the decrease to government support and the union’s “Save Jobs” campaign, which included local procurement agreements with a number of entities, the latest of which was between Sactwu and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival signed two weeks ago.
All of the clothing, textile and leather jazz memorabilia will be sourced locally.
In 2010, a total of 10 119 job losses were recorded, 5 338 in 2011 and 5 330 in 2012. Last year, 3 416 job were lost, said Kriel.
Apparel Manufacturers of South Africa executive director Johann Baard said the stabilisation of job losses could be attributed to increasing import costs for goods from China and a poor rand exchange rate. - Cape Times