Hope for end to clothing wage dispute

Johannesburg - The wage dispute in the clothing and textile sector could soon be settled, Sactwu said on Friday.

"Employer associations have all confirmed that they have received firm mandates from their constituencies to settle the wage dispute," SA Clothing and Textile Workers' Union general secretary Andre Kriel said in a statement.

"This is in terms of the recommended settlement package which had been developed by the parties during the special negotiating meeting held on 5 August 2014."

Kriel said this was a major step in avoiding a national strike by 80 000 clothing industry workers.

At the beginning of this month, Sactwu gave employers a week to decide on a wage settlement agreement.

Read: Union gives clothing employers an ultimatum

Workers were demanding a 9% increase while employers were offering 7%.

Kriel said the union had submitted its wage demands on March 20.

The first round of negotiations was held in April.

"We are recommending a settlement of the dispute. Our settlement mandate-taking processes continue today [Friday] and this weekend," said Kriel.

"However it is unlikely to be finalised before Tuesday next week. However, we can report that initial indications are that our members are prepared to accept the recommended settlement."