Sugar industry workers secure 6.5% wage increase after protracted negotiations
Sugar industry workers have secured a 6.5% wage increase, promising better living standards and financial stability amid rising costs.
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Workers in the sugar manufacturing and refining industry have secured a 6.5% wage increase through a one-year agreement facilitated by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
This comes after five months of negotiations.
Trade union United Association of South Africa (UASA), which represented workers in the talks, confirmed that the wage agreement applies to all employees within the A1 to C3 job grades and is backdated to 1 April 2025.
In a statement, UASA spokesperson Abigail Moyo said the agreement was finalised through the Bargaining Council for the Sugar Manufacturing and Refining Industry after a drawn-out process.
“This wage increase brings relief and renewed hope to workers as it translates directly into better living standards and improved financial stability for thousands of workers in the sector,” said Moyo.
She added that the increase comes at a time when many workers in the sugar industry are grappling with the high cost of living and sector-specific challenges.
“Considering the cost-of-living challenges facing all workers, we are hopeful that this wage increase is a sign of stability for the sugar industry, as the sector has been threatened by several factors that have painted a gloomy picture for sugar producers and workers,” Moyo said.
The sugar industry has faced sustained pressure over the past few years due to droughts, global price volatility, local production costs, and concerns over the long-term impact of the Health Promotion Levy, commonly referred to as the “sugar tax”.
UASA credited the outcome to the strength of collective bargaining.
“Wage increase agreements underscore the importance of collective bargaining as a tool and the key role played by labour in advancing workers’ interests in the workplace,” said Moyo.
She thanked UASA’s negotiating team for their role in the process and expressed hope that current wage talks in other sectors, including mining, would produce similarly positive results.
The agreement is expected to provide some economic relief for sugar industry workers, many of whom have faced job insecurity and stagnant wages amid broader sectoral restructuring and economic uncertainty.