It is rather comforting that someone is finally acknowledging the horrid loss of SA Jobs in favour of China. We need to become more proactive and support local industry and government as well as SACTWU need to be more involved in promoting the industry in SA and supporting factories and workers who do well..

Renato is a wonderful investigative journalist and his skills are under utilised and under appreciated in a world that has collectively gone crazy. China cannot be everything to everyone. We need to realise that the Government of China are keeping their money undervalued for a reason - As a country/Government they have crafted their rise in world importance through the clothing.textile. manufacturing industries ...and now it is computers /cars/technology/they are moving into Africa buying up all arable land - to secure food for their populace -

We all need to be aware of the "global aspirations of China" need to protect our industries, jobs and not be swayed by the greed of a few at the top of our own food chains.


At what risk do we entertain this "takeover"?

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Apologies for the long comment.

This problem could have been predicted long ago. Productivity will always be the winner in such a global market and especially in such economic conditions. These businesses utilizing Chinese manufacturing have a few problems to contend with and cannot be forced to buy local if the local market cannot supply. Here are a few issues:

a) The Industry is too fragmented. How many manufacturing plants do we have in SA? What can these plants produce? What are their capacities? We don't know exact amounts and figures. Not even SACTWU knows because there are many CMT owners who are trying to avoid the unions and are unregistered.

a)The volume of product that has to be produced in an industry that is fragmented and which whithering by the day (and this has to be done by a deadline). We just don't have the capacities in terms of technology and manpower. I know this because my business www.lavaink.co.za (an online t shirt company) , have requests for 100's of thousands to millions of t shirts and we cannot produce locally. It takes too long to produce such volume and is also too expensive. We pass these on to companies in South Africa that sell imported goods.

b)We have a union that is politically motivated and acts as a barrier to productivity because they do not understand that they have the ability to unite the industry in a way that can improve prodoductivity. It is always tools-down and toi-toi when the Clothing Industry has issues. It's an US (the employee) and THEM (the employer) attitude, when it should be a WE.

Will only mention these but there are many more.

What we need to do:

1. Start winning back work from the competitor who's costs are just below ours. We should target Mauritius not China. The Chinese are far too advanced and has labour and fabric rates that we can't compete with at the moment.

2. Change the way the Industry works from the ground up. Our machinists and ancilliary staff are still "policed" in factories. Give them responsibilty and get away from a system of manufacturing that is clearly not improving productivity. We need to focus on a teamwork remuneration system for production lines which will give workers more responsibilities when it comes to their earning potential. PAY PER GARMENT PRODUCED not by the hour. This will have a positive affect on productivity, abstenteeism, union invlovement (regarding wages) and there will be more self-motivation and self-discipline.

3) Create cohesiveness by utilizing technolgy such as the internet. Create an online space where companies can register themselves and disply their abilities. They can form groups to take on extremely large orders. They can tender as groups for large government orders (local and international) , etc. Companies need to market themselves better and work together as a country to compete with other countries. Combine this point with the previous point for better production.

There are many issues that needs to be resolved but the main thing is that the Industry leaders must start thinking out of the box and adapt to the global market. It's too late for the world cup though....and it's a pity.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Rushdeen, you are hitting at fundemental problems within our industry - I would love to engage with you on these very issues - as we appear to be in sync with each other.
Presently we are formulating an "investigation" into the very issues you raise - an issue that is close to the "heartbeat" of SA manufacturing - not just clothing.

A small team, are currently scoping out an important 'Investigative' research document into these very issues - I would appreciate your contact details...as possibly you could give input to the RESEARCH document, and its outcomes. We hope to publish our findings in the next couple of weeks
The more NEW VOICES of change, that are out there...the better ...we NEED to become the change we want to see happen.

report abuse

vote down

vote up

Dear Cathy, I would love to help where I can.

Rushdeen Rose
021 674 3253
082 574 7859
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.lavaink.co.za

report abuse

vote down

vote up