The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has settled its wage dispute in the Non-Woven textile sector. SACTWU has declared a formal wage dispute for the Non-Woven textile sector, on June17, 2022.

The union started negotiations in this sector on April 21 2022, and when no settlement could be reached after 3 formal rounds of wage talks, the union declared the dispute.

The settlement was reached on July 15, 2022, and the final agreement was eventually signed July 21, 2022.

These new wage increases for SACTWU's Non-Woven textile sector members will be backdated to 1 July 2022, which is the normal implementation date.

This new collective agreement for the Non-Woven textile sector is a 2-year agreement, effective from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024.It provides for wage increases of 7% during the first year of the collective agreement, and the same rand amount for the second year.

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

In addition to the wage increases, this new Non-Woven textile sector agreement also abolishes new entry-level wage provision. It allows for an increase in the long service allowance; It introduces annual bonuses payable one week before Chirstimas It seeks abolition of the requirement for annual bonus on leaving employment before November 01, 2022.