South African clothing factories struggle after migrant workers flee

South African clothing factories are facing significant challenges as migrant workers flee the country following xenophobic protests. These protests, led by anti-immigrant group March and March, have resulted in a significant loss of workforce, with factory owners reporting between 12% and 19% of their workforce leaving. The lack of local workers willing to take low-paying jobs in the unappealing garment sector has exacerbated the problem.

While some factory owners claim they employ mostly South Africans and need skilled workers from neighboring countries, others argue that the pay is too low for South Africans, and commuting costs deter locals. The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union estimates that 15% of Newcastle’s textile workforce left during the protests, and labour market researcher Siphelele Ngidi suggests that attracting South Africans to manufacturing jobs would require a government push to revitalise the sector.

Despite the challenges, most of Newcastle’s garment factories are owned by Chinese nationals who produce clothing for domestic retailers, making the industry vital to the local economy.

Brief written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's own syndicated text. Machine-written — read the original for the full account.