Covid-19: Clothing industry reaches agreement on payment of wages during lockdown

DURING LOCKDOWN
CLOTHING INDUSTRY REACHES AGREEMENT ON PAYMENT OF WAGES

Dear Clothing Industry employer

The Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry has concluded a collective agreement relating to the payment of wages to employees during the lockdown period.

This agreement has been extended to the non-parties in the industry by the Minister of Employment and Labour, with effect from 26 March 2020.

The agreement in essence determines that UIF and employers in the industry will take turns to pay employees’ weekly wages. The agreement makes provision for a 6 week payment period despite the lockdown being only for three weeks.

The payment schedule will be as follows:

Week 1: Deferred wages payable by the employer, for work performed during the week preceding the lockdown.

Week 2: (a) Deferred wages payable by the employer, for work already performed during the week of the lockdown, with (b) the balance consisting of workers’ funds received from the UIF, should the start of the lockdown period have occurred before a full week’s work was performed.

Week 3: A full week’s wages, payable by the employer.

Week 4: A full week’s wages, payable from workers’ funds received from the UlF.

Week 5: A full week’s wage, payable by the employer.

Week 6: A full week’s wage, payable from worker funds received from the UlF.

The payments due and receivable from employers during weeks 1 and 2 shall be paid to employees, whether or not funds are received from the UIF.

Please click here to view the agreement.

Regards

Jaco Swart
National Manager