Nearly 35 000 jobs could be lost if Shein, Temu not regulated: SACTWU - SABC News

Home | Nearly 35 000 jobs could be lost if Shein, Temu not regulated: SACTWU Temu logo is seen in this illustration taken, Bosnia and Herzegovina May 4, 2025. Image Credits : Reuters SABC News 20 October 2026, 10:31 [SAST] The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) says nearly 35 000 jobs could be lost by 2030 if global online retailers such as Temu and Shein are not properly regulated. The two China-founded e-commerce platforms have grown rapidly in the country in recent years, driven by low prices and aggressive marketing. According to a study by the Localisation Support Fund, international online retailers contributed to the loss of thousands of jobs and nearly R960 million in local manufacturing sales between 2020 and 2024. SACTWU Deputy General Secretary, Vilina Membinkosi, says the impact of job losses will also be felt in the public sector. “With their cheap goods and all of these things, I can guarantee you that in a matter of 2030, in the clothing, textile, leather and footwear industry, 34 000 jobs will be lost, and that will put serious pressure even on government, because you must remember these things are not regulated. That is a serious impact even on government in terms of tax. There will be no money for government to pay teachers, to pay police, municipalities, and nurses and doctors; all public sector workers are affected,” says Membinkosi. Meanwhile, Membinkosi says banning the two online retailers, along with stricter regulation of the e-commerce sector, could be among the measures needed to protect local manufacturers and jobs. “The solution is to ban it, and then ITAC, the Consumer Commission, all of these two institutions, they must do a deeper analysis and investigation on the practices of these offshore e-commerce, and then maybe, if there is any intention to reopen this thing, but there must be strict measures on how to control it and how to regulate it, so that there is an equalisation in terms of sales in the country.” Related video| Temu and Shein bring stiff competition: MOST READ Expert believes Tembe was possibly pushed from balcony 21.8k views Carling Knockout Cup kicks off as Clubs return from African campaigns 6.5k views Former police general arrested for alleged SAPS ammunition possession 5k views Five police officers arrested at the Polokwane International Airport 4.9k views Ramaphosa says Govt looking at options as fuel prices climb 4.2k views State flags flight risk in Mogalakwena manager’s bail hearing 2.7k views Chiefs and Sundowns face uphill battle to reach CAF group stages 2k views Hill-Lewis says DA aiming for outright majority in Cape Town 1.5k views Bafana icon Doctor Khumalo gets SAFA technical role 865 views VIDEO: Authorities outline response to diarrhoea cases in Tshwane 722 views RELATED STORIES Temu fined $232 mln for breaching EU rule on sale of illegal products 28 May 2026, 7:56 PM French government to appeal court ruling on Shein 19 December 2025, 7:48 PM France halts Shein suspension after sex dolls, weapons withdrawn 8 November 2025, 4:57 PM Shein store opening in Paris draws protesters, police and bargain hunters 5 November 2025, 2:50 PM