Guatemala'S Largest Garment Industry Has Laid Off Nearly 60%.

Guatemala City News: under the impact of the global financial crisis, kurmessa, the largest garment manufacturer in Guatemala, announced that it will lay off 4000 people in the coming months, equivalent to nearly 60% of the total number of employees. 25

Guatemala City News: by the impact of the global financial crisis, Guatemala's largest garment manufacturer, colam SSA, announced on the 25 day that it will lay off 4000 people in the coming months, equivalent to nearly 60% of the total number of employees.

Carlos Arias, general manager of the company, said at a news conference that because the company's main customers are in the United States, the company's orders have dropped to a certain extent as the financial crisis continues.

Therefore, the company decided to lay off 4000 people in stages to reduce operating costs.

Founded in 1988, the company is one of Guatemala's largest and most important garment enterprises in Central America. Currently, there are about 7000 employees.

According to the data released by the Central Bank of Guatemala, the export volume of the textile and garment industry in the first 9 months of this year dropped by 8%, and many companies began to increase revenue and reduce expenditure.

According to media estimates, by the end of this year, there will be 15000 to 20000 unemployed people in the industry.

Analysts here pointed out that the impact of the financial crisis on the country's agriculture and Commerce and industry has also been greatly affected, and the sharp layoffs in the coming year will inevitably be unavoidable.

There has been an increasing number of conflicts, and the casualties of the British troops in Helmand are also increasing. Britain must not think of this new strategy.

The Afghan government has condemned the British Army's growing "loss of public support".

The "Afghan social extension plan" is regarded as the first step to win back the influential tribal elders. These elders are likely to become the backbone of the future leading armed forces to fight against Taliban.

Of course, not all elders can enjoy this special treatment. Gulab Manger, governor of Helmand Province, will first choose carefully in the selection of the existing elders, and then decide through a month's consultations and two meetings that people will eventually get the money in Britain. These people will receive 800 pounds a year.

But critics worry that this salary, which is 30% higher than that of Afghan civil servants, is likely to become a "bribe" for president Karzai to buy the tribal elders to vote for the 2009 general election.

Mr Karzai is expected to discuss the plan with British Prime Minister Brown when he hopes to begin his visit to London in 2009.

His spokesman said: "in the battle against Taliban, we lost most of Helmand province because we did not get the support of the local people, and the tribal elders did not stand on our side.

To lose them is to lose their territory, and it's time to regain the hearts of people. "

As early as in 2007, Brown had said he would increase his support for the "tribal self-defense organization" in Afghanistan and help them recruit volunteers to defend their homeland and relatives.

But this plan is temporarily shelved due to lack of American support.

In the coming weeks, the new plan will be piloted in two regions of Helmand province and is expected to be implemented in 2009.

The United States is also taking similar actions in the eastern part of Helmand province.

After President Obama took office in 2009, a similar strategy will be regarded as the main way of cooperation with the tribe.

Before the election, Obama once said that with the success of the Sunni awakening program in Iraq, the US Army should adopt the same strategy in Afghanistan.

There is a lot of controversy between the United States and Britain.

A western policy analyst said: "this behavior is contrary to democracy.

If this is seen as a political subsidy or bribery, it will aggravate friction and resentment. "

There are also charitable groups who are worried that this practice is equivalent to recognizing the legitimate status of the tribal self defense force and will bring hidden dangers to the security situation after the withdrawal of coalition forces.

But people who support this approach say that sending money is only one way to cooperate with unofficial organizations, which helps to maintain close ties with young people who are loyal to tribes, families and tribal elders.

Karzai's spokesman said: "the new plan is not to build up the army, but to help the armed forces and militia patrols at any time to call on the tribe to help them to arm themselves and have the ability to protect themselves."