COSATU has welcomed concluded SACTWU wage negotiations for 2022/2024, where a seven percent increase will be implemented on their wages, with additional improvements in employment terms and conditions.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) issued a statement on Sunday, 3 July 2022, which announced that the COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has been able to settle its 2022/2024 wage negotiations in the Woven Cotton textile sub-sector. The new two-year collective agreement reportedly successfully concluded under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC), with employers that are represented by the South African Cotton and Textile Processing Employers’ Association (SACTPEA).
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COSATU has confirmed that the collective agreement was expected to take effect from Friday, 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2024. The periods that the collective agreement will cover are as follows: year one of the agreement covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023 and year two is intended to cover the period from 1 July 2023 until 30 June 2024.
The union further confirmed that in light of the concluded negotiations, for year one, its members in the Woven Cotton textile sub-sector will receive an increase of seven percent on their wages, and that for year two the wage increases will be fixed at the same rand value as that which is applicable this year. According to the union, the total package is actually worth more than seven percent, following some additional improvements in the terms and conditions of employment that were agreed upon in addition to the wage increases.
With regard to the annual bonus, the payment increases from three weeks wages to 3.5 weeks wages for workers between one year and three years’ service, and to four weeks for those workers with over three years of service, with effect from this year. Workers with less than a year’s service get a pro-rated annual bonus of two weeks. Employers are also required to pay annual bonuses, which are compulsory, before December ends.
In regard to the employees, COSATU affirmed that they can expect better family responsibility leave provisions that cover family circumstances, including childbirth. Further confirming that a settlement was achieved after four negotiation rounds that commenced on Tuesday, 25 April 2022 and concluded on Wednesday, 22 June 2022. 6 000 Woven Cotton Textile workers will benefit from these improvements.
