Category: General

Mexico: Garment workers vote in the independent union, but still face uncertain future
libcom.org, UK

Workers vote for representation by the leftist FAT (Frente Auténtico de Trabajo) union in the Grupo Navarra garment factory in Tehuacán, Puebla, Mexico, but doubts remain over the effectiveness of the organisation and the status of 45 fired workers.
The elections follow a long campaign of letter-writing and lobbying by various international anti-globalisation non-governmental organisations in conjunction with the FAT. During the organising drive, (as Libcom previously reported) around 50 workers lost their jobs, 45 of which are still demanding reinstatement.
The 19 de Septiembre union (affiliated to the FAT) received 263 votes, as compared to a total of 190 votes for the incumbent CROC and CROM unions, both of which are organs of the PRI-run (Partido Revolucionario Institutional) state government and local labour authorities Read more about Mexico: Garment workers vote in the independent union, but still face uncertain future …

Garment industry upgradation to start soon
The News – International, Pakistan

LAHORE: The project of Technical Upgradation of Garments Industry will start soon with an objective to enhance productivity and competitiveness of this vital segment of textile sector.

Under the project, foreign experts will be hired to help the local garments industry learn how to enhance productivity and become more competitive in the international markets. Read more about Garment industry upgradation to start soon …

Bloomberg
By William Bi
Nov. 27 (Bloomberg) — China’s textile producers and cotton traders have reneged on purchase contracts for as much as 20,000 metric tons of overseas cotton after prices plummeted in the past three months, two global trading executives said.
Read more about China Textile Makers Said to Renege on Cotton Orders (Update1) …

China Post, Taiwan
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The 2014 Textile International Forum and Exhibition (TIFE), the premier event in Taiwan showcasing the latest developments and technologies of the industry, wrapped up yesterday in Taipei City.
Read more about TIFE introduces latest developments in textile products, technology …

Hindu Business Line, India

NEW DELHI: India is likely to miss the $12-billion garment export target this fiscal as the overseas sales are expected to fall below last year’s level, an exporters’ body today said.
Read more about India may miss garment export target …

Album of songs by Sri Lanka’s female garment workers to promote labour values
Monday, November 27, 2014, 13:50 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Colombo Page, Sri Lanka

Nov 27, Colombo: Christian World Service of New Zealand has funded a Sri Lanka NGO working with the country’s garment workers, for a project of releasing a song album with the hope of uplifting the image of working women in Sri Lanka.

Garment manufacturing is Sri Lanka’s biggest export industry and over 80% of the garment workers are young girls. Read more about Album of songs by Sri Lanka's female garment workers to promote labour values …

Vietnam : Poor machinery induces higher cost for garment sector
November 27, 2014
Fibre2fashion.com, India

Ministry of Industry and Trade believes that incompetent and energy consuming equipments in the garment and textile industry is causing an unnecessary drain of finance.

Although, the industry has seen an outstanding growth of 31 percent in past one year, it still requires immense development to compete on an international level and meet the set target of US $7.5 billion for export turnover. Read more about Vietnam : Poor machinery induces higher cost for garment sector …

After I design a garment, I hate it’
Times of India, India

One of India’s leading couture designers, Rajesh Pratap Singh was in town for a fashion jamboree.

After the last model sauntered back, the music faded, and the applause reverberated across the venue, designer Rajesh Pratap Singh, made a quick entry, peeped from behind the models, waved, and sped into the shadows. Rajesh explains, “It’s not I but my clothes that should be remembered.” The designer, known for his eccentric demeanour, adds emphatically, “I’ll do anything to promote fashion.” Read more about After I design a garment, I hate it' …

NCR Conversation Cafe, MO
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.

The late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago used the Biblical image of a “seamless garment” to refer to what he described as a “consistent ethic of life” – beginning with abortion, the family, and other traditional “life issues,” and extending into peace and economic justice. The idea was to unify the church’s “pro-life” and “social justice” constituencies.
Read more about Africa may be the future of 'seamless garment' Catholicism …

HOPE Act would help Haiti’s garment industry
MiamiHerald.com, FL
BY JACQUELINE CHARLES
jcharles@MiamiHerald.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE —
This time last year, Haiti’s labor-intensive garment industry was at death’s door, and Andrew Ansaldi III was a man facing an uncertain future as 16 factories closed in two years and the unemployment rolls grew by another 5,000.
”I wasn’t very hopeful about the future,” said Ansaldi, 44, recalling the struggle to keep his own doors open amid Haiti’s shaky political climate and brazen armed gangs who wreaked havoc in the capital’s streets. “It was a war zone.”

Now, Haiti’s security situation has vastly improved, the rat-a-tat-tat of machine guns has been replaced with the automatic sounds of sewing machines, and Ansaldi has added 300 workers to his employment rolls as Haiti’s once-dying garment sector undergoes a slight rebirth. Read more about HOPE Act would help Haiti's garment industry …