U.S. and Jordanian authorities cast an intense focus on apparel factories that manufacture for U.S. companies, including Gap Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Jones Apparel Group Inc., after a May 2006 investigation by the National Labor Committee revealed working conditions that did not meet the country's labor standards. *The U.S. has been involved because goods made in Jordan can be shipped here duty free under a free trade agreement with the Middle East country and a second arrangement under a U.S.-Israeli trade pact. In Jorda, 98 apparel factories employ 54,000 workers. The program will receive $2.7 million in funding from the U.S., $1.05 million from the Jordanian government and about $500,000 to $600,000 in fees over five years from participating factories. Lejo Sibbel, an adviser to the labor minister, said the effort will initially have 25 to 30 participating factories, "partly because the brands for which they produce have indicated they will not source from them unless they join the program." (By Kristi Ellis, WWD.com)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Jordan Takes Steps to Improve Labor Conditions
Jordan's labor minister, seeking to reassure U.S. apparel buyers and the public that his government has taken steps to eradicate violations in the garment industry, outlined a five-year monitoring program Thursday intended to eliminate abusive factories; thus, paving the way for the launch of a voluntary apparel monitoring/inspection program in May. 
U.S. and Jordanian authorities cast an intense focus on apparel factories that manufacture for U.S. companies, including Gap Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Jones Apparel Group Inc., after a May 2006 investigation by the National Labor Committee revealed working conditions that did not meet the country's labor standards. *The U.S. has been involved because goods made in Jordan can be shipped here duty free under a free trade agreement with the Middle East country and a second arrangement under a U.S.-Israeli trade pact. In Jorda, 98 apparel factories employ 54,000 workers. The program will receive $2.7 million in funding from the U.S., $1.05 million from the Jordanian government and about $500,000 to $600,000 in fees over five years from participating factories. Lejo Sibbel, an adviser to the labor minister, said the effort will initially have 25 to 30 participating factories, "partly because the brands for which they produce have indicated they will not source from them unless they join the program." (By Kristi Ellis, WWD.com)
U.S. and Jordanian authorities cast an intense focus on apparel factories that manufacture for U.S. companies, including Gap Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Jones Apparel Group Inc., after a May 2006 investigation by the National Labor Committee revealed working conditions that did not meet the country's labor standards. *The U.S. has been involved because goods made in Jordan can be shipped here duty free under a free trade agreement with the Middle East country and a second arrangement under a U.S.-Israeli trade pact. In Jorda, 98 apparel factories employ 54,000 workers. The program will receive $2.7 million in funding from the U.S., $1.05 million from the Jordanian government and about $500,000 to $600,000 in fees over five years from participating factories. Lejo Sibbel, an adviser to the labor minister, said the effort will initially have 25 to 30 participating factories, "partly because the brands for which they produce have indicated they will not source from them unless they join the program." (By Kristi Ellis, WWD.com)
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