Covid-19 hits women in textile industry

Textile and apparel together with food and beverages sub-sectors of economy are the most affected by the spread of coronavirus, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) chief said on Friday.
KAM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms Phyllis Wakiaga, said local manufacturers in these sub-sectors employ a majority of women.

Women constitute at least 80 per cent of the workforce in the textile industry and 40 per cent in the food and drinks sub-sector according to International Labour Organisation (ILO).

China import

Ms Wakiaga said these sub-sectors have heavily been affected because they mainly source their raw materials from China or export to the country.

"Manufacturers foresee a shortage in their finished product within the next three months due to reduced supply of material inputs from China. This is likely to result in reduced output by the manufacturing sector as firms downsize their operations," she said on phone.

She observed that maintaining resilience of local industries to secure both male and female employees' jobs would require sourcing raw materials locally.

Local industry

"We can forge the resilience of local industries by enhancing our local value chain - from raw materials to finished products. By doing so, we can shelter the manufacturing sector from industrial and trade risks arising out of external shocks," she said.

She noted that women-owned businesses are equally facing challenges that men-owned enterprises are currently grappling with, thus the need for government to speed up tax refunds to enable manufacturers remain in business.

"The government cushioning SMEs (Small Medium ) by clearing outstanding VAT (Value Added Tax), reducing VAT and corporate taxes, during this time, will be of great benefit," she stated.