Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – The International Labour Organization (ILO) has partnered with the Department of Trade, Industry & Competition (DTIC) and the Companies & Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) to research illicit and illegal trade in counterfeit footwear and leather goods with a view to reducing them and bring relief to the sector in South Africa, Nii Moi Thompson, chief technical advisor of the ILO’s Productivity Ecosystems Project South Africa said in Durban last week during the ARSUTORIA Leather & Footwear workshop, which the ILO sponsored.

“The aim of the study is to help strengthen the local leather, footwear and leather goods value chain,” he said. “We got involved following a request from the DTIC as part of our collaboration in the project.

“The findings from the study will inform further interventions by the government, in collaboration with the ILO, to create a level playing field for South African manufacturers while plugging tax loopholes from illicit trade.”

He said the study is being spearheaded by Dr Jaywant Irkhede, director, leather & footwear, at the DTIC. 

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – Trade union NULAW accepted the employer's offer of a 7% increase on wages and an increase on the holiday bonus from 6 days’ pay to 7 days’ pay, Gerald Naidoo, general secretary of the National Bargaining Council of the Leather Industry of SA, said on Friday. Rival union SACTWU “will consult with their members and revert by Tuesday, 14 May, to indicate if the offer is accepted or not”, he said. 

Cape Town, W. Cape, SA – In response to criticism that the R-CTFL Masterplan has not delivered benefits for footwear manufacturing, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Ebrahim Patel, who attended the virtual PMO core meeting last week, asked the footwear representatives, representing SAFLIA and SAFLEC, to compile a full list of footwear manufacturers in time for a meeting this week, with a view to setting up meetings with chain retailers. 

Umhlanga, KZN, SA – Following an investigation by SAFLIA, Chinese online retailer Temu said after last week’s report that it had withdrawn all safety footwear from its South African portal.

SAFLIA found that Temu’s safety footwear didn’t comply with the marking and certification requirements for safety footwear in South Africa, which is regulated by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS).

Following our report last Monday, Temu said in an email: “After thorough review, we have taken the necessary steps to remove the item in question.”

Earlier, it had said that its legal team checked legal requirements in all markets it serves.

Although Temu still offers a wide range of ‘work’ shoes, none state that they have protective toecaps.

SAFLIA executive director Jirka Vymĕtal said this morning that the organisation was following up on safety footwear offered on a similar site.

“I’m pleased we’ve stopped this source of noncompliant safety footwear, which undercut legal safety footwear in part because it didn’t have to follow NRCS regulations,” he said. “We intend to shut down all similar sources.

“I’d also like to point out that Temu’s ‘work’ shoes claim to be oil-resistant, waterproof and nonslip – this statement is somewhat questionable as it falls under their category of ‘Work & Safety Shoes’ in both the men’s & women’s categories. Perhaps this also needs looking into.

“My understanding is that any footwear claiming safety needs the necessary accreditation markings, certification etc. Hence the questionability of this link below, which states: ‘Men's Solid Slip-On Oil Proof Chef Shoes, Comfy Non-Slip Casual Safety Shoes For Men's Outdoor Activities’.
 

Durban, KZN, SA – Caprini Footwear is restructuring and has NOT closed, MD Sanjay Pattundeen said last week.

He said Caprini had had no work for March and April, “but now I’m preparing to restart a scaled down Caprini next month”.

Caprini supplies chains, wholesalers and mini-chains, and it has an export customer in a neighbouring state.