Labour Minister, Membathisi Mdladlana says he is aware of the problem of non-compliance by certain employers in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State provinces with the collective agreement of the National Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry (NBCCMI). Responding to a parliamentary question on whether he had been informed of the reports of unfair labour practices in certain textile companies in KwaZulu-Natal, Mdladlana said the problem of non-compliance in this sector started a few years back and the council recently embarked on a campaign to ensure compliance which resulted in the issuing of writs of execution to a number of companies in the Free State and in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The problem does not involve unfair labour practices as defined in section 186(2) of the Labour Relations Act (no 66 of 1995), but involves payment of wages that are lower than the minimum wages contained in the collective agreement and non-payment of contributions and levies to social benefit funds and to the bargaining council,” The Minister said.
On whether the Government will, in light of some employers indicating that they would move to neighbouring countries, offer any special dispensation or Government assistance to the affected employees to avoid the loss of employment, Mdladlana said to date, the government has been involved in a meeting with the parties to the NBCCMI as well as affected employers in the Free State and in two national meetings hosted by the Department of Labour. “The purpose of these meetings has been to try to find a solution to a complex problem of non-compliance by employers in a sector that has experienced significant job losses due to factory closures, retrenchments and liquidation. In most cases, job losses have been caused by international competition and the importation of clothing from countries such as China,” said Mdladlana. He said the parties to the NBCCMI had agreed that there would be a moratorium on the issuing of writs until the end of December 2010, and during this time the parties would seek a sustainable solution to the challenges faced by the clothing sector.
The Minister of Trade and Industry recently launched the Clothing and Textiles Competitiveness Programme aimed at boosting the clothing sector and providing assistance to the industry in upgrading processes and products to enhance competitiveness.
Government is, therefore, closely involved in providing varying forms of assistance to the sector and supporting the parties to the NBCCMI to find negotiated solutions to the challenges that they face, Mdladlana said.
Enquiries:
Mzobanzi Jikazana (Ministerial Spokesperson)
Cell: 083 641 2355
