By Own Correspondent

THE National Union for the Clothing Industry (NUCI) is reeling under severe economic hardships but continues to persevere in keeping trade union work afloat.

The last two or so decades have seen a massive growth in the second-hand clothing business in Zimbabwe, an enterprise that has grown so big that it is now  dubbed the ‘mabhero’ market.

In English, mabhero means ‘bales of clothes’ and  the name was coined by traders who imported discarded clothes from the international market, which arrive in large containers. The clothes are sold on street pavements and markets in Zimbabwe’s urban areas and business centers.

Once the clothes arrive, traders heap the clothes and start selling them allowing consumers to take their pick at anything they want. It has become such a big industry that it is now sustaining many livelihoods as most of the income is in hard currency.

However the downside impact of this trend is that has led to massive job cuts in the clothing industry due to waning demand for new clothes in favor of second hand clothes.

Against the backdrop, NUCI said that what is contributing to its retention of members is an organizing strategy anchored on better industrial relations and collective bargaining.

“The union said the generational mix at the factories  allowed for the sharing of skills between the youth and senior workers, some of whom are now supervisors. Amongst the supervisors are women who are employed in different capacities,” said NUCI.

The union said the influx of imported garments and textile imports which are about 95 per cent, and used clothes made locally produced garments uncompetitive and expensive.

“ For instance, a locally made formal shirt from the factory costs as much as US$15 while a preowned shirt donated from Europe costs only US$2. Additionally, high production costs, and an exodus of skilled workers to neighbouring countries also affected the textile and garment industries,” said NUCI.