On a 30 October deadline, Sourcing Journal discusses efforts to safeguard female workers at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum:
Kate Nishimura | October 30, 2020
The following is an excerpt...
On Wednesday, during the virtual conference, Bonnie Glick, the deputy administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), announced the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding with a cadre of American apparel, footwear and retail companies, as well as industry associations, to provide relief to female workers in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
Retailers and brands including Gap Inc., Carter’s, Global Brands Group, Levi Strauss & Co., Nike, Tapestry, Target, VF Corp. and Walmart, along with trade associations including the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA), the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the U.S. Fashion Industry Association, agreed to the terms of the MOU. Steve Lamar, president and CEO of the AAFA, signed on behalf of the consortium of companies and trade groups, while deputy administrator Glick signed on behalf of USAID.
The Covid crisis has had a massive impact on the livelihoods of garment workers, who have faced job losses due to supply chain disruptions, halted trade and canceled orders from brands across the globe—including some, like Gap, which signed the MOU. Asia represents one of the most affected markets, with clothing, shoes and accessories being a top export for the region, and many factories and suppliers left in the lurch by international partners.