The government is considering launching a R7-billion bale-out plan to help the struggling clothing and textile industry, the Business Day reported on Monday.

The package — of which R2-billion is expected to come from the state — has been drafted by the department of trade and industry, along with industry stakeholders.

The sector will also undergo sweeping changes, the newspaper said, in order to prevent further job losses. In the past three years, the industry has lost some 60 000 jobs as cheap Chinese goods have flooded into SA.

If this proposal gets the go-ahead, it is believed up to 285 000 jobs would be created, while most of the allocated amount — some R1.3-billion — will be used to reskill workers.

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