SACTWU wage agreement

The previous two agreements covered the clothing industry, and the woven, crochet and knitted manufacturing sector of the textile industry.

The trade union said the new agreement covers all workers in the carpet manufacturing sector of the textile industry. It provides for a 9% across the board wage increase with effect from July 1, and a further 1% wage increase with effect from January 2004.

The agreement was reached between SACTWU and the Carpet Manufacturers' Employers' Association, late last week, under the auspices of the National Bargaining Council for the Carpet Manufacturing Industry.

The agreement will cover all carpet manufacturing companies, such as Nouwens, Belgotex, Ulster and Domo. The majority of carpet manufacturing companies are located in the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The new industry minimum weekly wage will increase from R575.36 to R632.89 per week. Most companies already pay above the industry minimum wage.

The annual bonus for most workers with more than 4 years' service will increase to 4 weeks' wages, payable at the end of each year.

SACTWU said the agreement also requires that all employers in the sector contribute a levy of 10c per employee per week to the union's HIV/Aids awareness campaign.

"Other features of the agreement provide for an increase in paid time-off for SACTWU shop stewards for trade union activities, an increase in the weekly bargaining council levy, a catch-up wage payment for those companies who are still paying below the industry minimum wage, and the establishment of a sub- committee to investigate the extent of hours of work in the sector."

The union said the agreement was currently being reported to SACTWU members in the sector, and the union expects it to be ratified by the end of this week.