By Desmond Nleya, Daily Times Reporter
DUBAI-South Africa’s clothing manufacturing sector is facing growing labour shortages after thousands of migrant workers reportedly left the country following a wave of anti-immigrant protests.
In Newcastle, a major manufacturing hub, factory owners say the departure of migrant employees has significantly reduced their workforce, with some companies reporting losses of up to 19% of their staff.
Employers say many of the workers who left possessed specialised sewing and garment-making skills that are difficult to replace quickly. They also claim that local workers are often reluctant to take the relatively low-paying factory jobs.
However, trade union officials have challenged the skills-shortage argument, saying the deeper problems are low wages, expensive commuting costs and poor working conditions.
Factory owners warn that the loss of workers is already affecting production and the ability of companies to fulfil retail orders.
They fear that if the labour shortages continue, some factories could be forced to scale back operations or shut down altogether, putting further pressure on South Africa’s already struggling manufacturing sector.
