Cosatu Backs Call To Ban Shein And Temu Over Job Losses
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has resolved to campaign for a government ban on Chinese e-commerce platforms Shein and Temu, citing concerns that their growth could put up to 34,000 South African jobs at risk by 2030.
The decision was taken at COSATU’s 15th National Congress, held at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg this week, following a motion tabled by its affiliate, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU).
SACTWU members displayed placards highlighting projected job losses in the clothing, textile, leather and related industries, based on a 2025 study.
SACTWU president Susan Khumalo told delegates that Shein and Temu were undercutting local manufacturers with low-priced imports, putting pressure on wages, benefits and working conditions.
“If nothing is done, comrades, to change this, our city and our families will lose 34,000 jobs by 2030,” she said.
COSATU subsequently endorsed the call for a ban and urged its members to delete the Shein and Temu apps and support local retailers instead.
The two platforms have expanded rapidly in South Africa, intensifying concerns about the impact of cheap imports on domestic manufacturers. By the end of 2024, they accounted for an estimated R7.3 billion in sales and 37.1% of the online market for clothing, textiles, footwear and leather goods.
The growth of these platforms has added to longstanding pressures on an industry that has lost significant numbers of jobs over the past two decades.
However, economic analysts have cautioned that an outright ban may push more trade into informal channels without addressing the structural challenges facing South African manufacturers, including competitiveness, skills shortages and infrastructure constraints.
In 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) removed the de minimis tax exemption for imported goods valued at less than R500, increasing the cost of small-parcel imports from international online retailers.
COSATU’s proposed campaign adds to growing calls for stronger measures to protect local industries and jobs from competition posed by low-cost imports.
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