Cape Town - The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (Sactwu) are set to embark on a nationwide protest against H&M and Zara on Saturday.
Sactwu blames the job losses and factory closures experienced by the clothing industry on the entry and increasing growth of international retailers such as Zara, H&M and Cotton On.
"These retailers conduct business in our country, but they carry no South African-made products and they snip market share from many South African retailers which stock South African made goods. These foreign retailers cause fewer orders in South African factories which contribute to local retrenchments and factory closures," said Sactwu in a statement.
They added that the country cannot afford 'further unemployment and poverty'.
Sactwu wants these retailers to purchase locally manufactured products. Talks have been opened with Cotton On 'but the same cannot be said for H&M and Zara'.
The aim of the protest is to highlight the damage that is being caused to South Africa's clothing industry.
They are expected to protest at H&M and Zara stores nationwide between 09:30 and 13:30.
In Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Galleria Mall in Umhlanga will be affected.
In the Western Cape, Sactwu members will protest at Cavendish Square, Canal Walk, Somerset Mall and the V&A Waterfront.
Clearwater, Cresta, Sandton Mall, China Mall (Pretoria) in Gauteng are also expected to be hit by protest action.
In the Eastern Cape, Motherwell Shopping Centre, East London and China Mall in Beacon Bay will be affected and in Bloemfontein, China City could also be impacted.