SACTWU press release on 21 as a public holiday 19-03-08

 

19 MARCH 2008

PRESS RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

CLOTHING INDUSTRY AGREES TO MORE THAN ONE DAY'S PAY FOR 21 MARCH 2008 PUBLIC HOLIDAY

The Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers' Union (SACTWU) rejects the recent blanket assertion by some labour lawyers and industrial relations commentators that workers will only be entitled to one days' pay for the double public holiday falling on 21 March this year.

Such commentaries are irresponsible and completely disregard the provisions of collective agreements reached in some industries on the matter.

In the clothing industry, employer organisations and the trade union (SACTWU) have reached the following agreement on the matter:

(i) Where two public holidays fall on the same day, and on which no work is performed, employees shall receive a minimum payment of 1 day's wages plus an additional 5 ½ hour's wages;

(ii) Where two such public holidays fall on the same day, and on which duly authorised work is performed, employees shall receive minimum payment of 1 day's wages plus an additional 5 ½ hour's wages plus the prescribed payment for the period during which work is performed on such day;

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-clauses (i) and (ii) above, those employers who are able to pay two full day's wages instead of one day plus 5 ½ hour's wages as prescribed in sub-clauses (i) and (ii) above, are encouraged to do so.

The above agreement has been under discussion between the trade union and employer organisations in the clothing industry for the last few months. It was finally adopted at a national Executive Council meeting of the clothing industry bargaining council which meeting was held on Monday 10 March 2008.

In other words, we expect that clothing workers nationally will be paid at least 1 day's wages plus and additional 5.5 hours' wages for the 21 March 2008 double public holiday.

In the textile industry, the matter was also discussed at an Executive Council meeting of the National Textile Bargaining Council, held yesterday, but referred for further discussion at a later stage. There matter has also not yet been concluded in the leather industry.

We have taken note that government is considering declaring May 2 as a public holiday and will deal with the implications on the industry which we organise in, once their is certainty about government's decision on this matter.

SACTWU is an affiliate of COSATU and organising workers in the clothing, textile and leather industries.

Issued by

Andre Kriel

SACTWU

Deputy General Secretary

If further information is required, kindly call Andre on (021) 4474570.