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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211.
Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich today announced that
several national apparel manufacturers have signed agreements to monitor
compliance of their contractors. Reich said he hoped many more would join his
department in the coming weeks in a partnership dedicated to eradicating U.S.
sweatshops.
Reich told a gathering of some of the nation's largest
apparel manufacturers in New York City today that he has promised national
retailers he would develop a list by Nov. 24 of manufacturers who are actively
seeking ways to join efforts to crack down on labor law abuses. Reich said
today his list of manufacturers who have committed themselves to monitor their
contractors and take other steps to ensure that their contractors comply with
the law now includes 34 firms across the country.
"It is my hope that these retailers will use this list as
a guide to working with manufacturers who are willing to stand up for workers
and end the prevalent abuses we see in the industry," said Reich, who has
launched a national effort aimed at reducing worker abuse in the garment
industry.
"There are irresponsible contractors in this industry
whose business practices lead to the abuse of vulnerable workers. Their
exploitative practices imperil the advances and investments in technology and
workers made by legitimate manufacturers. These sweatshops put at risk the very
existence of a vibrant domestic apparel manufacturing industry."
The six national manufacturers who most recently signed
the labor department's compliance agreements make such labels as Little Trotter
and Clio, distributed in prominent retail stores. Their signings bring to 34
the total number of U.S. manufacturers assisting in labor law compliance
efforts. After signing the compliance agreements with the labor department,
these manufacturers must follow a 30-step process to prevent labor abuses by
their contracting shops.
One of the manufacturing firms signing an agreement is
L.F. Sportswear, a manufacturer identified in the Aug. 2 raid of the El Monte,
Calif. sweatshop where 72 Thai immigrants were being held captive by the
garment contractor. L.F. Sportswear has also submitted monies to help pay some
of the wages owed to the workers who were held at El Monte. None of the members
of the American Apparel Manufacturing Association (AAMA) were identified in the
El Monte raid.
The American Apparel Manufacturers Association's 600 firms
are responsible for about 75 percent of domestic garment production.
"These manufacturers have regular contact with more than
20,000 cutting and sewing shops around the country," Reich said. "They are the
linchpin in our industry enforcement strategy and they can help us identify
unscrupulous operators."
Norm Fryman, chairman of the board of the American Apparel
Manufacturers Association, and Reich said their organizations have agreed to
begin working together immediately to develop industry monitoring measures to
crack down on unscrupulous operators. The two groups have already discussed the
new partnership.
The meeting with manufacturers today and the newly
announced partnership with the AAMA is a major step forward in Reich's efforts
to improve industry self-policing. At a meeting Sept. 12 with the nation's
retailers, Reich was able to secure some efforts on their part to contribute to
increased monitoring and policing activities. He said today he is continuing
negotiations with retailers.
"We must have the involvement of every segment of the
industry if we are ever to make progress in eliminating this pervasive worker
abuse," Reich said. "Retailers are the most powerful piece of the industry. We
simply must have their leadership and involvement to make this effort a
success. The manufacturers agreement today makes it all the more critical that
the retailers join this enforcement partnership."
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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