Frame Textile Group embarked on a significant downsizing in 1988, thirty-three per cent of workers were retrenched. The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) negotiated attractive severance packages for affected workers. In addition, they negotiated with Frame Textile Group to provide R2.5million in working capital and fabric credit to help fund the new company. SACTWU committed itself to provide the facilities, equipment, management and training to boost the fledged company and set it on its way.
Zenzeleni Clothing started in 1989, a name given by the workers to mean “We do it ourselves”. Workers who were retrenched from the Frame Textile Group made up part of the three hundred workers that were employed.
The company provided a lifeline and opportunity of not only gainful re-employment but of skills development in the garment industry as opposed to the spinning/weaving and finishing (Textile Industry) from which they had come from.
Zenzeleni Clothing is a Propriety Limited company that is compliant with the Barganing Council requiments.
The company’s condition of employment, including wages, hours of working and membership of social security benefits are with those of the Formal sector in the Clothing Industry. As such the company complies against the unfair advantages taken by many of the country’s major work wear supply sources who pay depressed wages and provide little or no social security benefits to their under privileged workforce.