South Africa xenophobic protests hit garment factories

Months of anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, led by the group March and March, culminated in a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave, prompting thousands of migrant workers to flee. In South Africa — Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, a manufacturing hub, clothing factories lost between 12% and 19% of their workforce, leaving sewing machines idle. Factory owners report difficulty filling vacancies, citing a shortage of skilled sewing workers and low wages that deter local workers. The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union estimates 15% of Newcastle's 15,000-strong textile workforce left. Some owners, like A Sexplanation, are operating at a loss and considering closures, while Ronghua Yan has started training local employees. The industry also faces reduced retail orders following February inspections that found illegal labor practices. The South Africa — Department of Employment and Labour disputes the shortage, and union representatives argue low pay is the real issue.