Government and clothing industry back-to-work health measures

On Monday, Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) Minister, Ebrahim Patel, virtually met with heads of the clothing retail industry to review the readiness of shops and factories under lockdown level 4.

This came as the economic window opens for the retail and manufacturing industry. Measures are needed to avoid a sudden increase in the spread of Covid-19.

The retail industry consists of the clothing textile, footwear and leather sectors.

The department spokesperson Sidwell Medupe said the stakeholders agreed on a common Covid-ready workplace plan set to serve as a guide for the industry.

Some of the health and safety measures agreed upon were: phasing in of shift workers, social distancing measures set for employees and customers, and other necessary health protocols.

According to the department, level 4 enables manufacturers to begin manufacturing with at least 30% normal employment for all clothing, textile, footwear and leather goods; up to 50% for winter goods; and up to 100% for children’s and baby clothes, and personal protective equipment like face masks.

This sees thousands of workers flooded in common places and raises the government’s fears of a hike in Covid-19 infections.

Patel said the industry has to adapt to operating in a new way with the Covid-19 outbreak still at a high.

“As we navigate the uncharted terrain of the Covid-19 reality, it will take our collective efforts to ensure we reduce the risks of infection while we re-open our economy and adjust to our new normal,” Patel said.

“We are facing an unprecedented disruption of lives and economic well-being. The public, private and civil society sectors need to work together to ensure our society’s safety, particularly in a phase of re-opening more economic sectors.”

Patel also thanked SA consumers for supporting small businesses by buying essential goods from them.

The Foschini Group’s CEO and chair of the national clothing retail federation (NCRF) Anthony Thunström, welcomed the move to re-open clothing retail stores.

He said the industry needed to prioritise health while rejuvenating economic activity.

“We are happy to adopt the additional occupational health and safety requirements,” he said.

CEO of Woolworths SA, Zyda Rylands, also gave a green light to back-to-work protocols.

She said the health and safety measures needed to be practised by the big retailers even more so as they had a lot of employees to protect.

Rylans further encouraged the industry to support customers to implement the government’s health and safety measure initiatives.

The Apparel and Textile Association of SA’s (ATASA) chairperson, Herman Pillay, said the industry should look at unoccupied spaces within their buildings and offer them to local health departments to assist with Covid-19 response measures, such as testing.

South African Apparel Association (SAAA) chairperson Graham Choice, said market localisation efforts in support of the demand for PPEs added viability for local industries and has been a saving grace to many.

South African Clothing, Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) secretary, Andre Kriel, said the measures were a fair balance between health risks and getting workers back to work.

According to the department, the industry has more than 350 manufacturers who have said they are ready to produce cloth face masks, ranging from micro-enterprises employing a few people, to SMEs and larger firms.

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