THE Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has settled its wage dispute in the non-woven textile sector.
Earlier discussions regarding wages in the non-woven textile sector started on April 21, 2022. However, when no settlement could be reached even after three rounds of negotiations, SACTWU formally raised the issue.
The new collective agreement for the non-woven textile sector is a two-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),” said Andre Kriel in a statement.
In addition to the wage increases, this new Non-Woven textile sector agreement also provides for the following improvements, amongst other:
• abolishment of new entry level wage provisions;
• an increase in the long service allowance;
• a compulsory requirement that annual bonuses are payable no later than at least 1 week before Christmas day;
• abolishment of the restriction that no annual bonus is applicable if an employee leaves employment before 1 November, and replaced with a provision that such employees will earn a pro-rata annual bonus;
• an increase in the annual bonus by 1 extra paid day.
The new agreement will be submitted to the South African Minister of Employment and Labor together with a request for its publication and distribution to non-partisan employers.
STAFF REPORTER|
