By Andre van Heerden, Senior Associate; Jacques van Wyk, Director, Bradley Workman-Davies, Director; and Thabisa Yantolo , Candidate Attorney

The National Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry (“Bargaining Council”) has concluded a collective agreement between relevant stakeholders (“Agreement”). It has been announced that the Agreement, which is not as yet available, will ensure some 80,000 workers will be guaranteed full pay for six weeks during and after the national lock-down. The salaries will be paid from employer funds and employee’s Unemployment Insurance Fund (“UIF”) payments.

The Bargaining Council has indicated that the agreement has been sent to the Department of Employment and Labour to be extended to non-parties within the industry. We will keep you updated on developments in this regard.