Category: General

30 hurt as workers fight with officials at DEPZ factory
JU Correspondent/The Daily Star, Bangladesh

At least 30 people were injured in clashes between workers and officials of Youngone Group in Dhaka Export Processing Zone (DEPZ) yesterday over beating up of a worker by a mid-level official.
Meanwhile, a number of garment factories remained closed yesterday despite the withdrawal of workers’ strike.

The severely injured were taken to hospitals in Dhaka and Savar while others were given first aid at the factory medical centre. Read more about 30 hurt as workers fight with officials at DEPZ factory …

James Lawton: Brazilian blend of beauty and belief is ready to take on world
Independent

Brazil make their first appearance at the 2014 World Cup today and do so with a side capable of enhancing their reputation as the greatest footballing nation of them all

Published: 13 June 2014
In the gentle sunshine of late afternoon training most eyes, as always are on the “super-god” players of Brazil … Ronaldinho, “the gaucho,” who has a blue bandanna wrapped around his head; Ronaldo, wearing a loose top, the kind of garment, the cynical are saying, that a championship boxer wears while he works on flattening his gut before he has to step into the ring; the muscular Adriano, who would look like a fighter if stripped down to his toes; and the elegant Kaka. Read more about James Lawton: Brazilian blend of beauty and belief is ready to take on world …

10-point tripartite accord signed: Minimum wage board for garment workers soon
The New Nation, Bangladesh

In the wake of recent labour unrest at the country’s ready-made garment factories, the representatives of the government, ready-made garment owners and workers yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) pledging the fixation of minimum salary for workers within the next three months and offering them the trade union rights.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Amanullah Aman, BGMEA President Tipu Munshi and Sramik Karmachari Oikya Parishad (SKOP) President Dr Wazedul Islam formally signed the 10-point agreement on behalf of the government, garment factory owners and workers respectively. Read more about 10-point tripartite accord signed: Minimum wage board for garment workers soon …

‘Garment sales may be capped’
Saipan Tribune
By Liberty Dones
Reporter

Tuesday, June 13, 2014
The proposed amendment of the U.S. Tariff Code may mean the setting of a garment sales cap in the CNMI at $350 million a year, said the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

“Modification of Headnote 3[a] to allow 70-30 is moving ahead. .It appears benefits of 70-30 will be capped at $350 million a year for apparel, with no cap on shoes,” said the Chamber in its June 2014 newsletter.

A $350-million cap would mean a much diminished garment operations since the industry’s gross sales usually amount to over $600 million in prior years.

In 2005, industry gross sales totaled over $500 million while in 2004, the figure was over $700 million. Read more about 'Garment sales may be capped' …

Ethiopia: Garment Industry Lumbers Along
Asrat Seyoum/AllAfrica.com

The Ethiopian textile and garment industry in Ethiopia is one of those sectors that has not been given due attention. With respect to the market situation, domestic garment outputs were nowhere near qualitywise to compete with the imported fabrics. However, at present a number of new investors are entering the scene and considerable capital is being invested in the industry.

One such investment initiative in the sector is the WOW International factory built in the Akaki area. The aim of the factory is to produce garments for suits, casual dress, and sports wear mainly intended for export. Read more about Ethiopia: Garment Industry Lumbers Along …

Xinhua, China
LUSAKA, June 11 (Xinhua)–Value addition to Africa’s cotton is vital if the continent is to benefit from its exports of cotton, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) said here Wednesday.
Read more about COMESA: Value addition vital for African cotton …

Sri Lanka should strive to gain additional garment export market
Sun, 2014-06-11 01:45
By Quintus Perera – Asian Tribune

Human development and improved market access are musts to develop the garment export industry in Sri Lanka in the face of heavy competition from countries like India and China which have performed excellently well said Dr Saman Kelegama, Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies making a presentation on “The Garment Industry in a Non-Quota Trade Regime” held at the Sri Lanka Association of Advancement of Science Auditorium, this week.

He said there should be make or break situation for the weak and vulnerable economies until 2014; address supply side constraints requires innovative approaches, beyond conventional issues like trade facilitation, creation of EPZ, improving access to finance and improved delivery of technical assistance; need to reduce dependence on developed countries for market, capital, technology and training and South-South cooperation and public –private partnership could be useful instruments. Read more about Sri Lanka should strive to gain additional garment export market …

Pitch invader to sell bikini on Trade Me
12 June 2014/Stuff

Inspired by the Tana Umaga handbag bidding frenzy, a bikini-clad woman arrested for streaking at the All Blacks-Ireland rugby test is auctioning off the skimpy garment – to pay her legal fees.

Lisa Lewis, 25, was arrested and charged with disorderly behaviour after being crash-tackled by a security guard, in front of 30,000 fans at Waikato Stadium, in the dying moments of Saturday night’s test. She was also carrying a handbag, hoping to secure the All Blacks’ autographs, to auction. “Streaking on a rugby ground was on my list of things to do before I die,” she said

Ms Lewis, from Mt Maunganui, has promptly posted her “tinsi winsi green and black” bikini on the Trade Me website – and within hours bidding had climbed to $580. Read more about Pitch invader to sell bikini on Trade Me …

Unraveling thread of history
Scranton Times-Tribune

If you want to get an idea of how big the garment industry was in the region in the 1960s and 1970s, South Scranton resident Jerry Birtell has a suggestion: Just open the obituary section.

You’ll find sewers, bushelers, pressers, closers and other workers who devoted years of their lives to manufacturing clothing. And while it’s not yet time to write an obituary for the industry itself, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission decided this year it was time to give it a memorial.

The commission unveiled a marker Friday on South Main Street in Pittston across the street from the former headquarters of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Read more about Unraveling thread of history …

Garment exporters hit by rising rupee
11 June 2014
domain-B, India

The impact of the rising rupee is serious on exports. A garment export hub, is losing as much as Rs2 crore a day reports CNBC-TV18.

Premal Udani, managing director, Kaytee Corporation, is one of Tirupur’s largest garment exporters but he hasn’t got a single profitable order in three months. He’s even had to reduce order sizes from regular customers. And even though the crucial spring-summer 2014 orders will soon pour in, Udani cannot expand. Read more about Garment exporters hit by rising rupee …