The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has settled its wage dispute in the Worsted textile sub-sector.

It is a 2-year collective agreement, effective from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024.

It provides for wage increases ranging between 7.5 per cent and 8 per cent for this year, and for next year, it provides for wage increases between 7 per cent and 7.5 per cent, as set out below.

This new 2-year collective agreement was successfully concluded under the dispute processes and procedures of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC), with employers represented by the National Association of Worsted Textile Manufacturers (NTMA).

In a new precedent-setting provision for industrial workers in our industry, this Worsted textiles collective agreement provides for an extra day's paid annual leave per year, for workers who have completed 8 years' consecutive service on permanent staff.

The settlement was achieved after four negotiation rounds which commenced on 6 April, inclusive of a dispute conciliation round.