VIETNAM
* Vietnam, EFTA hasten signing of free trade pact in the first half of 2018
http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/194639/vietnam–efta-hasten-signing-of-free-trade-pact-in-the-first-half-of-2018.html
* Vietnam’s exports to US face tough time ahead
http://english.vov.vn/market/vietnams-exports-to-us-face-tough-time-ahead-367854.vov
* The Netherlands is Việt Nam’s leading importer in EU
http://vietnamnews.vn/economy/421865/the-netherlands-is-viet-nams-leading-importer-in-eu.html
CAMBODIA
* Nearly 100 garment workers faint in Takeo
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50105767/nearly-100-garment-workers-faint-in-takeo/
* More than 60 factory staff in mass fainting
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50104964/more-than-60-factory-staff-in-mass-fainting/
* Minimum wage law talks conclude
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/105452/minimum-wage-law-talks-conclude/
* Minimum wage law to advance to Council of Ministers
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minimum-wage-law-advance-council-ministers
* EBA with EU safe: GMAC
Following a report by the European Union on Friday that did not specifically mention or condemned the political situation in the kingdom, local garment manufacturers say the country is no longer at risk of losing its preferential treatment status with the EU.
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50104568/eba-with-eu-safe-gmac/
* New platform to champion sustainable trade globally
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50104178/new-platform-to-champion-sustainable-trade-globally/
THAILAND
* Wage hike to give SMEs tax windfall
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1405422/wage-hike-to-give-smes-tax-windfall
BANGLADESH
* Minimum wage for cotton textile sector proposed at only Tk 5,710
http://www.newagebd.net/article/33626/minimum-wage-for-cotton-textile-sector-proposed-at-only-tk-5710
* Announce Tk 16,000 as minimum wage for garment workers
http://www.newagebd.net/article/33498/announce-tk-16000-as-minimum-wage-for-garment-workers
* BGMEA wants to have joint proposal over minimum wage
http://www.newagebd.net/article/33408/bgmea-wants-to-have-joint-proposal-over-minimum-wage
* RMG workers’ leaders want Tk16,000 as minimum wage
Of Tk16,000 we demand, Tk10,643 has to be fixed as basic wage, Tk4257 as house rents, and Tk1,100 as transportation and medical allowances
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/01/25/rmg-workers-leaders-want-tk16000-minimum-wage/
* Bangladesh moves to revise minimum wage for garment workers
https://bdnews24.com/business/2018/01/14/bangladesh-moves-to-revise-minimum-wage-for-garment-workers
* Economy’s mainstay and workers’ wage
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/opinions/economys-mainstay-and-workers-wage-1516898356
* UK retailers reluctant to sign up to Bangladesh factory safety deal
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/01/30/uk-retailers-reluctant-sign-bangladesh-factory-safety-deal/
* Sainsbury’s quits Accord, M&S, 2 others may follow
http://www.newagebd.net/article/33703/sainsburys-quits-accord-ms-2-others-may-follow
* Investors urge major retailers to back RMG workers’ safety
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/economy/bangladesh/investors-urge-major-retailers-to-back-rmg-workers-safety-1517068916
* Preventing fire incidents in RMG sector
In Bangladesh, incidents of fire become frequent during winter. But unlike other natural disasters like flood and cyclone, it can easily be thwarted by taking precautionary measures.
Victims of fire incident remain traumatised for many days and have to undergo a painful process to get recovered.
Victims also incur a considerable amount of financial losses and for the insolvent people, these make a heavy dent in savings and livelihoods.
It is an uphill task for the poor and the working class to bear the cost of treatment for burn injuries.
Some medicaments are not manufactured locally.
So these are very expensive and a lower-income family barely affords those medicines….
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/views/preventing-fire-incidents-in-rmg-sector-1517412700
* 20 hurt as RMG workers clash with BGMEA staff
http://www.newagebd.net/article/33861/20-hurt-as-rmg-workers-clash-with-bgmea-staff
* Attack at BGMEA building, workers assaulted, 25 injured
Workers of garments factory have allegedly attacked the building of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) in the city.
The incident took place at about 12:00 pm on Wednesday (January 31). The RMG workers, however, denied the allegation…..
http://www.banglanews24.com/english/national/article/66634/Attack-at-BGMEA-building-workers-assaulted-25-injured
&
http://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/news/170385/3-hurt-in-clash-between-RMG-workers-BGMEA-staff
&
http://www.thedailystar.net/city/dhaka-three-injured-hurt-clash-between-bgmea-employees-rmg-workers-1527913
* Attaining competitiveness in RMG
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/reviews/attaining-competitiveness-in-rmg-1517152291
* Sweater exports on the rise
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/export/sweater-exports-the-rise-1525354
* Why are woven garment exports falling behind?
http://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2018/01/25/long-lead-times-fabric-imports-reduce-competitiveness-woven-garment-exports/
* Bangladesh Bank relaxes incentive terms for new RMG market exploration
https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/trade/bangladesh-bank-relaxes-incentive-terms-for-new-rmg-market-exploration-1516938286
* Shelving BGMEA polls, govt extends tenure of existing board by 1 more yr
http://www.newagebd.net/article/33700/shelving-bgmea-polls-govt-extends-tenure-of-existing-board-by-1-more-yr
INDIA
* New report: false promises and restriction of movement in production for Western garment brands
Female migrants employed in India’s garment factories supplying to big international brands like Benetton, C&A, GAP, H&M, Levi’s, M&S and PVH, are subject to conditions of modern slavery.
In Bangalore, India’s biggest garment producing hub, young women are recruited with false promises about wages and benefits, they work in garment factories under high-pressure for low wages.
Their living conditions in hostels are poor and their freedom of movement is severely restricted. Claiming to be eighteen at least, many workers look much younger.
These are some conclusions from the report ‘Labour Without Liberty – Female Migrant Workers in Bangalore’s Garment Industry’.
The study found that five out of the eleven ILO indicators for forced labour exist in the
Bangalore garment industry: abuse of vulnerability, deception as a result of false promises (wages etc.), restriction of movement in the hostel, intimidation and threats, and abusive working and living conditions.
Some of these aspects are also felt to a certain extent by the local workforce, but are more strongly experienced by migrant workers.
full report:
https://cleanclothes.org/resources/publications/labour-without-liberty-2013-female-migrant-workers-in-bangalores-garment-industry-full-version-1/view
& short version:
https://cleanclothes.org/resources/publications/labour-without-liberty-2013-female-migrant-workers-in-bangalores-garment-industry-short-version/view
* Workers, trade unions take out massive rally
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/workers-trade-unions-take-out-massive-rally/article22600751.ece
* Against advice, farmers holding on to pest infested cotton crop
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/against-advice-farmers-holding-on-to-pest-infested-cotton-crop/articleshow/62698883.cms
* Continuous fall in exports worries garment makers in Tirupur
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/continuous-fall-in-exports-worries-garment-makers-in-tirupur/articleshow/62716540.cms
* GST refunds delay hits state textile units hard
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gst-refunds-delay-hits-state-textile-units-hard/articleshow/62701762.cms
* Textiles sector seeks a leg up from the government
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/textiles-sector-seeks-a-leg-up-from-the-government/article22544779.ece
* ‘Eliminate embedded taxes to boost exports’
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-business/eliminate-embedded-taxes-to-boost-exports/article22581719.ece
* Rs. 6,000-cr. to boost apparel sector: Irani
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/rs-6000-cr-to-boost-apparel-sector-irani/article22539896.ece
* Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association demands extension of e-way bill for six months
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/fostta-demands-extension-of-e-way-bill-for-six-months/articleshow/62700399.cms
* Textile traders hail Gujarat govt’s decision exempting fabric from e-way bill
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/textile-traders-hail-state-govts-decision-exempting-fabric-from-e-way-bill/articleshow/62700426.cms
* Tirupur garment makers shift fabric dyeing to Mysuru
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/tirupur-garment-makers-shift-fabric-dyeing-to-mysuru/articleshow/62666741.cms
* Pre-budget: Leather industry hopes to get more tax relaxations
The leather industry, one of the leading revenue generators for the state, is hoping to get more tax relaxations in the forthcoming budget to help gain dominance in the global market and also tackle Bangladesh market, a newest threat to Indian leather industry…
https://www.hindustantimes.com/lucknow/pre-budget-leather-industry-hopes-to-get-more-tax-relaxations/story-cQtULM9d5HSxWsDG98sbIM.html
* Pink bollworm may lower cotton yield
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/pink-bollworm-may-lower-cotton-yield/articleshow/62730923.cms
PAKISTAN
* Bail plea of Baldia factory fire accused dismissed
https://www.dawn.com/news/1386077/bail-plea-of-baldia-factory-fire-accused-dismissed
* Alleged Baldia factory arsonist’s bail plea rejected
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1621436/1-alleged-baldia-factory-arsonists-bail-plea-rejected/
* SHC rejects bail plea of Baldia factory fire suspect
https://dailytimes.com.pk/191607/shc-rejects-bail-plea-baldia-factory-fire-suspect/
* SHC rejects bail plea of Baldia factory fire suspect, asks ATC to speed up case proceedings
https://www.dawn.com/news/1385982/shc-rejects-bail-plea-of-baldia-factory-fire-suspect-asks-atc-to-speed-up-case-proceedings
* Low wages, child labour, other issues yet to be resolved: minister
https://www.dawn.com/news/1385277
* Rabbani wants workers and trade union leaders to unite
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1620603/1-rabbani-wants-workers-trade-union-leaders-unite/
* Textile firm says exports to Europe likely to pick up over 200%
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1616358/2-textile-firm-says-exports-europe-likely-pick-200/
* Productivity in the textile industry
https://www.dawn.com/news/1385793/productivity-in-the-textile-industry
* Working mothers and maternity leave
https://tribune.com.pk/story/1621354/6-working-mothers-maternity-leave/
* LIVING ON THE FRINGES
At the recently concluded five-day World Economic Forum (WEF) in the snow-laden Swiss resort town of Davos, synonymous with wealth and prestige, global leaders from business, politics, academia etc, gathered to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world and deliberated on creating a ‘shared future’ for a ‘fractured world’.
Meanwhile in Karachi, 22-year-old factory worker, Syeda Naila, who had never heard of the WEF, wants to know if these rich individuals had talked about ways to increase the “measly” wages of factory workers like her in Pakistan.
“Was someone there who told these people how increasingly difficult it is becoming to live on the money we earn?”
she whispers over phone and then, gathering some courage blurts: “You know it is people like us who make people like them so rich?”
“Inequality is rising by the day and workers are frustrated because they are unable to support the cost of living on their present wages,” says Zehra Khan, general secretary the Home-Based Women Workers Federation (HBWWF) who sees the chance of workers escaping the cycle of poverty “getting slimmer.”
…
https://www.dawn.com/news/1385597
OTHER
* Krise bei H&M
Zerbricht das Familienimperium?
(article in german)
http://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/boerse/krise-konzerne–mode-101.html
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