South African Clothing Factories Lose Workers as Migrant Exodus Hits Newcastle

South Africa · ECONOMY Key Facts —Workforce losses: Three Newcastle factory owners told Reuters they lost between 12 and 19 percent of their workers after the June 30 deadline set by anti-immigrant group March and March. —Union estimate: The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union estimated about 15 percen

Management says falling purchase orders and financial pressure forced the cuts; a labour leader disputes the explanation and demands reinstatement

South Africa's textile industry is facing a workforce crisis after thousands of migrant workers fled the country in the past few months, in the wake of violent xenophobic protests. The campaign led by anti-immigrant group March and March sought to free up jobs for South Africans, one-third of whom are unemployed. But f

Weeks after xenophobic protests drove thousands of migrant workers from South ​Africa, rows of sewing machines stood idle at a clothing factory in Newcastle, a manufacturing hub in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal.