Footwear sector settles wage agreement – finally

Durban, KZN, SA – Kindly be informed that the parties to the Footwear Section have concluded their annual negotiations for 2025 as follows:

1. Wages and Wage Rates
(i) With effect from 1 July 2025, the basic wage on all prescribed operations shall be increased by 5.5%.
(ii) Wage increase must be backdated to 1 July 2025.

2. Agency Shop Agreement (Employees)
A recommendation will be made to the Bargaining Council to increase the maximum amount of Agency Fee from R23.55 to R25.20.

3. Supplementary Sick Benefit Fund
The Supplementary Sick Benefit Fund Agreement setting out the details thereof, is attached as Annexure A to this collective agreement, and will be submitted to the Minister of Employment and Labour for gazettal and extension to non-parties.

4. Rate of Pay for Hyster / Forklift Driver
The wage rate for a Hyster/ forklift driver will be incorporated under Annexure D of the wage schedule to read as follows:
D(v) other including Hyster / forklift driver Column A Per Week - R2523.57

5. Footwear Task Team
The Bargaining Council will facilitate meetings with the parties to consider the following:
(i) Modernisation of the Footwear Sector Collective Agreement
(ii) Short-Time
(iii) Fixed Term Employment
(iv) Scope of Application
(v) Footwear Classification Criteria

6. Other
All conditions of employment not expressly altered by the settlement agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

The above constitutes a full and final settlement of the 2025 wage negotiations and becomes effect from 1 July 2025.