These workers brought specialised sewing experience to the industry and, critically, lived on-site — removing the commuting costs that make low-wage factory employment unattractive to many South Africans. Owners attribute the recruitment shortfall to two factors: a limited pool of locals with the technical sewing skills required, and a broader reluctance among South Africans to accept the wages on offer. The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union disputes the claim of a skills gap but concedes that low pay and the cost of commuting are genuine deterrents for local job-seekers. Closures possible by DecemberNewcastle's textile sector is dominated by Chinese-owned businesses that supply clothing to major South African retailers. Profit margins in the industry are notoriously thin, and some factories pay workers per completed garment rather than a fixed salary, making wage increases difficult to absorb.