Migrant Exodus Threatens Production at South African Factories

South African clothing manufacturers say an exodus of migrant workers following recent anti-immigrant protests is creating labor shortages and disrupting factory operations. In Newcastle, a major manufacturing center, some factory owners report losing as much as 19% of their workforce due to the exodus. According to the owners, many of the departing migrants possess specialized sewing skills that are difficult to replace quickly. They also claim that local workers are often reluctant to accept the low wages that factories paid the migrant workers. However, union representatives dispute claims of a genuine skills gap, instead pointing to low wages, expensive commutes, and poor working conditions as the real reasons employers struggle to recruit South Africans.