Newcastle Factories Struggle to Fill Vacancies After Foreign Workers Leave South Africa

• KwaZulu-Natal garment factory owners report losing between 12% and 19% of their workforces following xenophobic protests
• Factory owners say locals lack specialised sewing skills and are reluctant to accept low-paying textile work
• Newcastle manufacturers warn that ongoing operational losses could force factory closures as early as December

KWAZULU-NATAL — Garment manufacturers in Newcastle are battling to keep production lines running after a wave of anti-immigrant pressure forced thousands of foreign workers out of South Africa ahead of a 30 June deadline set by the anti-immigration group March and March.

According to Sunday World, the campaign, which targeted undocumented migrants and was framed as a measure to ease South Africa's persistently high unemployment rate, has had an unintended consequence: factory floors in one of the country's key textile hubs are now short-staffed, with machines sitting idle.

Factories lose up to a fifth of their workers

Factory owners in Newcastle report that their workforces have shrunk by between 12% and 19% since the exodus of migrant labourers, many of whom came from Eswatini and Lesotho. These workers brought specialised sewing experience to the industry and, critically, lived on-site — removing the commuting costs that make low-wage factory employment unattractive to many South Africans.

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Owners attribute the recruitment shortfall to two factors: a limited pool of locals with the technical sewing skills required, and a broader reluctance among South Africans to accept the wages on offer. The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union disputes the claim of a skills gap but concedes that low pay and the cost of commuting are genuine deterrents for local job-seekers.

Closures possible by December

Newcastle's textile sector is dominated by Chinese-owned businesses that supply clothing to major South African retailers. Profit margins in the industry are notoriously thin, and some factories pay workers per completed garment rather than a fixed salary, making wage increases difficult to absorb.

The situation has been further complicated by recent government inspections into unlawful labour practices, which resulted in the cancellation of retail orders, adding to the financial pressure on already strained businesses. Several owners have warned that if conditions do not improve, they may be forced to shut down entirely before the end of the year.

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Rather than opening up employment for South African citizens, the departure of migrant workers now threatens the survival of businesses that provide existing local jobs — raising questions about whether the campaign achieved its intended goal.

KZN government reviews impact of anti-immigration protests

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education's assessment of the impact of anti-immigration protests on learner attendance and well-being. Officials are compiling reports to address the disruptions faced by both documented and undocumented students amidst broader community challenges following the recent demonstrations.

Source: Briefly News