Final update on Gildan priority hiring scheme

HONDURAS: Final update on Gildan priority hiring scheme

By just-style.com | 3 October 2006

The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), the Honduran Independent Monitoring Team (EMIH), and the Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN) have released their final update on the verification of Gildan Activewear's compliance with its pledge to give priority hiring opportunities to ex-workers of its Gildan El Progreso factory.

The T-shirt maker signed an agreement in January 2005 saying it would give priority to the approximately 1,800 former workers from the Honduras factory, which it closed in August 2004.

EMIH, which carried out the verification, found that in the first month of the deal Gildan hired only 20% of the 171 ex-workers who had filled out applications but during the same month hired 145 workers who had never previously worked for Gildan.

However, EMIH found that following the initial stage, compliance with the agreement seemed to improve with an increasing proportion of former El Progeso job applicants being hired each month.

The update concluded that Gildan's response would have been much more effective had the first-hire policy been adopted and implemented immediately following the factory closure.

In addition, it said it would have been better if the company had opened a new facility in the El Progreso area, rather than 90 minutes by bus from the town where most of the former Gildan El Progreso workers lived.

MSN said it is not requesting any action as follow up to the final update.

The release of the update came as Gildan said it will be closing its textile manufacturing facility in Valleyfield, Quebec and downsizing its knitting facility in Montreal, Quebec, in December.

To access the full report and recommendations, go to:
http://www.maquilasolidarity.org/campaigns/gildan/index.htm

Sectors: Apparel, Manufacturing

Companies: Gildan