Blog:
Spotlight on labour rights
Leonie Barrie | 15 November 2005
One of the highlights of a new report from the Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a special feature on the elimination of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement, its impact on labour rights, and FLA’s response to ensure compliance with the FLA Workplace Code in China.
In its 2005 Public Report the FLA points out that when the quotas were eliminated on 1 January 2005, many foresaw a “doom-and-gloom” scenario, in which US and EU markets would be flooded by cheap Chinese imports, while hundreds of thousands of workers lost their jobs in countries that could no longer compete with China.
However, it says that contrary to popular belief, China is not the cheapest location:
“China’s export strength goes beyond nominal wage costs and to additional factors such as a large and acquiescent labor force, an undervalued currency, government investment in the industry, near self-sufficiency in the raw materials required for textile production, advanced business networks, and good shipping connections. China provides an example of a country characterised by both widespread non-observance of the labour law and increasing efforts to improve standards.
• The inconsistent enforcement of labour law has left certain sectors and groups of workers exposed to abuses.
• China adopted a general Labor Law in 1994 and more recently promulgated two pieces of legislation that could facilitate the development of democratic structures to represent workers in consultations and negotiation, although its legal structure still limits freedom of association.”
Interestingly, FLA monitoring results show that China is no closer to the bottom in terms of labour standards than a number of other sourcing destinations. And also, whereas a number of the other key sourcing countries or regions are characterised by defunct or failed systems of regulation, the Chinese government is still actively seeking to improve its system of labour market regulation and labour law enforcement.
BLOG
Slowing economic growth weighs on 2020 sentiment
As we move into the final month of the year, it’s not surprising that anxiety and concern appears to be the prevailing mood across the fashion sector for 2020. A new report offers the ten trends set t...
BLOG
Sustainability is fast fashion’s Achilles heel
Two aspects of sustainability – environmental impact and worker well-being – are often buried under greenwashed marketing and feel-good statistics; the seeds of where fast fashion's demise have taken ...
BLOG
Vietnam's textile-garment plan hits hurdles
domestically-made textile inputs remains a major problem that continues to hinder clothing manufacturers in the country....
BLOG
Levi Strauss leads on green supply chain in China
Sustainability remains top of mind for the industry with Levi Strauss, Adidas and C&A ranked amongst the leading brands to have made progress in environmental supply chain management in China over the...
Most Popular
Insights
- US apparel imports feel weight of China tariffs
- Digital product creation – Key steps to success
- Business Transformation – Move beyond the buzzword
- UK fashion manufacturers must consolidate or die
- Eco-friendly investments for a sustainable profit
News
- Garment worker killed in Bangladesh factory blast
- US Q3 in brief – Vince Holding Corp
- M&S Founders Factory invests in fashion start-ups
- US apparel groups hail deal on USMCA trade pact
- Fashion pilot to produce first circular polybag
Market research