dressed & undressed clothed & stripped - in the news 20180112

VIETNAM

* Hundreds of workers besiege Saigon garment factory to demand wages (video)
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/video/hundreds-of-workers-besiege-saigon-garment-factory-to-demand-wages-3698986.html

* 600 workers go on strike in Saigon after S Korean director disappears owing wages
https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/600-workers-go-on-strike-in-saigon-after-s-korean-director-disappears-owing-wages-36957

* Bình Dương to settle collective labour disputes, strikes
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/421469/binh-duong-to-settle-collective-labour-disputes-strikes.html

* Wage, insurance reform priorities: PM
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/421392/wage-insurance-reform-priorities-pm.html

* Tet bonuses likely to be higher
This year’s year-end bonuses at enterprises nationwide are expected to be higher than last year. The average bonus is expected to be higher than the usual one month’s salary, a representative from the Institute for Workers and Trade Unions under the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour told Thoi bao Kinh doanh.

Deputy Labour Minister Doan Mau Diep said that except for areas affected by natural disasters, this year’s bonus would not be lower than last year, since 2017 was a prosperous year for businesses.

However, there are exceptions. Unable to afford transport fees to go home for Tet (Lunar New Year), Tran Dinh Nhat and his wife Nguyen Thi Lien, workers at a private textile company based in Binh Duong Province, have decided to stay in the province for the holiday
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/193961/tet-bonuses-likely-to-be-higher.html
&
(same article)
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/421134/tet-bonuses-likely-to-be-higher.html

* Better meals make better workers
https://en.vietnamplus.vn/better-meals-make-better-workers/124829.vnp
&
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/421065/better-meals-make-better-workers.html

* Đồng Nai leads in trade surplus
The province’s footwear, which accounts for its largest export revenue, is exported to many countries.

Large footwear firms in Đồng Nai increased production in the last months of 2017 to meet export orders.
Many footwear firms now have orders until the middle of the year.

Last year exports of the fibre and textile thread group accounted for $1.4 billion, up nearly 24% against 2016.
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/421073/dong-nai-leads-in-trade-surplus.html

* VN wants footwear, bags to yield $20b
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/421132/vn-wants-footwear-bags-to-yield-20b.html

* Project to prevent violence against women launched
http://vietnamnews.vn/society/421275/project-to-prevent-violence-against-women-launched.html

CAMBODIA

* Workers stage walkout
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102518/workers-stage-walkout/

* Unions and companies alike unhappy with draft changes to law on worker contracts
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/unions-and-companies-alike-unhappy-draft-changes-law-worker-contracts

* Garment sector to tackle employment contract problems
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102227/garment-sector-to-tackle-employment-contract-problems/

* Phnom Penh court calls worker over Veng Sreng strike
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/phnom-penh-court-calls-worker-over-veng-sreng-strike

* Garment factory literacy classes expanded
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102211/garment-factory-literacy-classes-expanded/

MYANMAR/BURMA

* Garment workers protest over unpaid salaries
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102302/garment-workers-protest-over-unpaid-salaries/

* Local businesses fret over minimum wage hike
…Kyaw Win, vice president of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association, said a 33 per cent hike in labour costs within two years could pose a “heavy burden” on employers, as it was a very rare practice globally.

“We are still at the infant stage of industrialisation. We are fully aware that the minimum wage needs to be reviewed, given the higher living costs. But businesses should develop at the same time,” he said.
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/13178

* Government reaffirms commitment to labour market reforms
https://www.mmtimes.com/news/government-reaffirms-commitment-labour-market-reforms.html

* Labour law reform is key to sustainable development for Myanmar – Forum
http://www.mizzima.com/development-news/labour-law-reform-key-sustainable-development-myanmar-forum

* Garment exports up as govt, industry work on longterm strategy
http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/business/13132

* Colliers tips industrial sector as star real estate performer in 2018
https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/colliers-tips-industrial-sector-as-star-real-estate-performer-in-2018

BANGLADESH

* RMG SECTOR WAGE BOARD
Rules violeted in appointing workers’ representative, allege leaders
Labour leaders have alleged that the real representation of the readymade garment sector workers has been ignored in the wage board formed on Sunday for the RMG sector as the government has violated rules in appointing workers’ representative to the board.
http://www.newagebd.net/article/32668/rules-violeted-in-appointing-workers-representative-allege-leaders

* RMG workers get new wage board
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/rmg-workers-get-new-wage-board-1515931384

* New wage board for RMG sector formed
http://www.unb.com.bd/bangladesh-news/New-wage-board-for-RMG-sector-formed/60523
&
http://www.thedailystar.net/country/new-wage-board-readymade-garment-rmg-sector-formed-1519717

* Apparel wage board formed to avert unrest
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/apparel-wage-board-formed-avert-unrest-1519867

* Govt forms wage board for RMG workers
http://www.newagebd.net/article/32553/govt-forms-wage-board-for-rmg-workers

* Half of female RMG workers face spousal violence
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/half-female-rmg-workers-face-spousal-violence-1520632

* Garment accessories offer bright prospects
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/garment-accessories-offer-bright-prospects-1520932

* Improved working conditions in RMG restore buyers’ faith
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/improved-working-conditions-in-rmg-restore-buyers-faith-1516188711

* Bangladesh’s woven garments losing competitiveness globally
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/bangladeshs-woven-garments-losing-competitiveness-globally-1516246939

* Apparel exports to India soar 66%
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/bangladesh-rmg-garments-exports-apparel-to-india-soar-66-percent-1521541

* Workers unrest at UMC Jute mill in Narsingdi
http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2018/01/18/workers-unrest-umc-narsingdi/

* Rising cotton import likely conduit for money laundering
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/rising-cotton-import-likely-conduit-for-money-laundering-1515930829

* RMG worker ‘commits suicide’ & Boy found in critical condition dies
A female RMG worker allegedly committed suicide in Chittagong city’s EPZ area yesterday.
The deceased was Reshma, 20, wife of Md Nasir Ali, said police.

She hanged herself from a ceiling fan at her home at Eksobish (120) Colony under EPZ Police Station.
Sub-inspector (SI) Zillur Rahman of EPZ Police Station said the incident resulted after a brawl between the couple.

Her husband rescued Reshma in a critical condition and rushed her to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) but the doctors declared her dead, he said.

Reshma’s husband Nasir, who is also a garment factory worker, has been taken into police custody for interrogation and a case was lodged in this connection.

In another incident, a 12-year-old boy died after being found unconscious at his home in Chandgaon area of the port city.
The deceased was Md Kamrul, 12, son of Md Kabir.

Kamrul used to work at Well Fashion garment factory. The boy was found unconscious with bubbles in his mouth, police quoted his neighbours as saying.

Assistant Sub-inspector (ASI) Shilbrata Barua of CMCH’s police outpost said the child might have taken poison at his residence while his parents were at work. He was rushed to CMCH at 12:00pm where doctors declared him dead, the cop said.
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/rmg-worker-commits-suicide-1521484

INDIA

* Child’s death highlights slavery, the Indian textile industry’s ‘dirty secret’
http://news.trust.org/item/20180112115714-j82q6/

* BT cotton seeds effective: Monsanto to government
http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/jan/18/bt-cotton-seeds-effective-monsanto-to-government-1757850.html

* Difficult to say Bt cotton crop yield loss due to pink
http://www.newindianexpress.com/pti-news/2018/jan/16/difficult-to-say-bt-cotton-crop-yield-loss-due-to-pink-1755925.html

* Lack of irrigation saved bigger losses for cotton growers
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/lack-of-irrigation-saved-bigger-losses-for-cotton-growers/articleshow/62479564.cms

* India cotton traders cancel export deals in pivot to local market, says association chief
Indian cotton traders have cancelled contracts to export some 400,000 bales of the fibre after a rally in domestic prices and the rising rupee made overseas sales unattractive, the president of the Cotton Association of India told Reuters.

The switch, triggering penalty payments by traders, has left cotton buyers in leading markets like Bangladesh, Vietnam and China seeking to make up shortfalls by tapping suppliers in the United States, Australia and Brazil, …
http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/jan/12/india-cotton-traders-cancel-export-deals-in-pivot-to-local-market-says-association-chief-1752212.html

* Garment exports nosedive by 8% in December
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/garment-exports-nosedive-by-8-in-dec/articleshow/62560420.cms

* Higher budgetary support needed to prop textile export up:Icra
http://www.newindianexpress.com/pti-news/2018/jan/17/higher-budgetary-support-needed-to-prop-textile-export-upicra-1756658.html

* Textile traders want Centre to defer e-way bill implementation
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/textile-traders-want-centre-to-defer-e-way-bill-implementation/articleshow/62546534.cms

* Textile imports increase 19.7% on surge in B’desh shipments
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/textile-imports-increase-19-7-on-surge-in-bdesh-shipments/articleshow/62546168.cms

* GCCI eyes textile tie-up with Bangladesh
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gcci-eyes-textile-tie-up-with-bangladesh/articleshow/62546143.cms

* Textile Min expects early nod for Rs 170 cr knitwear package
http://www.newindianexpress.com/pti-news/2018/jan/14/textile-min-expects-early-nod-for-rs-170-cr-knitwear-package-1753410.html
&
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/textile-min-expects-early-nod-for-rs-170-cr-knitwear-package/articleshow/62494193.cms

* Garment dealers hopeful of tax reduction ahead of Union Budget 2018-19
http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2018/jan/16/garment-dealers-hopeful-of-tax-reduction-ahead-of-union-budget-2018-19-1755081.html

* Trade unions urge government to focus on job generation in Union Budget
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/trade-unions-urge-government-to-focus-on-job-generation-in-union-budget/article22440936.ece