ITGLWF: Layoffs In The Global Textile And Garment Industry 11 Million 800 Thousand

The International Federation of textile, clothing and leather workers (ITGLWF) reported that the economic crisis had a huge impact on the textile, clothing, leather and footwear industries.

Another 3 million jobs are estimated to be at risk.

In particular, the lack of social safety nets in developing countries makes workers in developing countries particularly miserable.

Migrant workers, as always, are the most vulnerable among these workers.

There are about 6 million migrant workers in Bangladesh, many employed in overseas textile, clothing and shoe making companies, and they are forced to return to their own countries, which will further increase the pressure on employment.

These workers are often employed for short-term jobs. Employers should reduce their salaries and allow them to extend their working hours and work overtime. The weekly wage standard of textile and clothing industry is usually far lower than that of survival.

Many brand buyers and retailers have been asking for price cuts, often resulting in more serious unemployment during the execution of contracts.

Companies operating in good health, especially clothing companies, often find it impossible to cut prices even if they can expand their business, because bank loans have dried up and liquidity is scarce.

Unfortunately, the unions in many countries have been suppressed for many years and are very weak now. They should fully represent and safeguard workers' rights and interests at this critical moment, but the unions are not prepared for this important task.

The International Federation of textile, clothing and leather workers pointed out that in this crisis, workers were asked to make sacrifices, but they did not receive any reward guarantee for economic recovery.

There is an urgent need to take measures to help workers withstand the current pressure and establish a recovery strategy.

Governments must take the lead in mitigating the crisis and prepare for economic recovery, providing economic, industrial and social infrastructure, including social safety nets, and strictly enforcing legislation, especially labour legislation;

The various stimulus packages currently being launched need to be strengthened and more focused on retaining and creating decent employment opportunities.

The manufacturing sector must be seen as a key and important component of the economy of all countries.

Consolidating the supply chain of textiles, clothing and footwear should pfer orders to suppliers who respect international labour standards and provide decent jobs. Enterprises that fail to meet this standard can not become new suppliers.

It is unacceptable to reduce wages and reduce working conditions as a way to deal with crises. We should firmly oppose them.

The whole industry should vigorously implement the payment of living wage as an important stimulus to expand domestic demand to accelerate economic recovery.

Training and retraining, especially for those who have lost their jobs or those who have reduced their working hours, should be strengthened so that workers waiting for jobs to master new technologies should be an important factor. For those workers who are not working well in the future, learning new technologies is to prepare for changing jobs.

Companies in the textile and garment industry must be able to obtain credit at reasonable interest rates.

Workers and their trade unions must be able to play their roles at all levels, including playing a role in solving the crisis and playing a role in formulating strategies for economic recovery.

The way of cooperation at the national level should encourage all important producers to establish industry cooperation through the three party's economic and Social Council.

The trade unions must meet challenges and, in the face of crises, improve their organization and fully represent the interests of workers.

International institutions, including the world bank and the International Labour Organization, must participate in global cooperative efforts to mitigate the impact of the crisis and plan for recovery.

In particular, the international labour organization must make use of the crisis to promote member states' compliance with their core conventions and uphold the laws and legislation of member states in order to achieve these goals.

MFA Forum, including all key players, including governments, international institutions (ILO and World Bank), buyers, manufacturers, trade unions and civil society organizations, MFA Forum must play a key role in formulating a comprehensive short-term, medium-term and long-term action plan for the survival and development of the industry.

Editor in chief: Xu Qiyun