Naamsa president Mike Whitfield
Photo by: Duane Daws
National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) president Mike Whitfield says he is hopeful that the current wage negotiations between vehicle manufacturers and the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa will be completed in the next ten days, without a strike.
“We have the opportunity to conclude an agreement, but there is no guarantee. We are hoping, from Naamsa’s side, for a positive end to the talks,” he told Engineering News Online at the Car Conference, held on Thursday at the Festival of Motoring in Kyalami.
Whitfield said it was “really critical” that the South African automotive industry, as a global vehicle exporter, was viewed as a stable, high-quality production base, with no disruption in supply to global markets.
“South Africa, as a major exporter, has demanding global customers. We compete with overseas plants that are also eager to increase their production base.”