The National Bargaining Council is suing Drake Clothing for failing to comply with labor laws, alleging that workers are paid below minimum wage and are subjected to deplorable working conditions.
The National Bargaining Council for the Clothing Manufacturing Industry has taken legal action against Drake Clothing, a supplier for major retail brands like Pep, Mr Price, and Foschini, claiming that the company is operating under conditions that violate labor laws in KwaZulu-Natal. The council asserts that the company has set up fraudulent cooperative structures to bypass legal obligations, leading to widespread exploitation of workers.
Investigations by council agents reportedly uncovered egregious conditions where employees are not only paid below the legal minimum wage but endure excessively long working hours in squalid environments. In some instances, workers are forced to live together under harsh circumstances, drawing parallels to overcrowded prisons, which underscores the severity of the alleged labor law violations.
This legal initiative by the Bargaining Council aims to seek a court order for the liquidation of Drake Clothing, striving to address what it describes as a growing epidemic of sweatshops in the region. The implications of this case could set a significant precedent for labor rights enforcement in South Africa's clothing manufacturing sector, highlighting the need for stricter compliance with labor laws and protections for vulnerable workers.
