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US to review child-labour charges in clothing sector
18 Jun '10
2 min read
The stigma of child-labour and sweat-shops in the textile and clothing industry is a scourge which has struck many of the Asian countries like India, Cambodia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. India in the past has been accused of employing child-labour in its textiles units.
The textile and knitting hub of Tirupur in Southern India had drawn international attention on the issue in 2008, which led to the apex trade body; Tirupur Exporters' Association to make its members sign a self-declaration, refraining from use of child labour in their plants.
The US Department of Labour listed clothing sourced from India under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorisation (TVPRA) list and Executive Order 13126 List (EOL), which are trade barriers and could put 30 percent of India's garment exports in jeopardy.
A review of these practices is up for review by the United States, later this year. The apex body of apparel exporters, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and the Indian government are trying hard to avoid any kind of stricture and exclude India from the list.
AEPC has initiated a process of educating and preparing a compliance code for the exporters in the small and medium sector, with regard to labour reforms, flexible working hours, wage parity, proper working conditions and health and safety issues.
The government on its part will use diplomatic channels and has also appointed a lobbying firm in the US, which is expected to assist AEPC in the field of research besides sourcing information on US policy and labour laws.
The textile and knitting hub of Tirupur in Southern India had drawn international attention on the issue in 2008, which led to the apex trade body; Tirupur Exporters' Association to make its members sign a self-declaration, refraining from use of child labour in their plants.
The US Department of Labour listed clothing sourced from India under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorisation (TVPRA) list and Executive Order 13126 List (EOL), which are trade barriers and could put 30 percent of India's garment exports in jeopardy.
A review of these practices is up for review by the United States, later this year. The apex body of apparel exporters, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and the Indian government are trying hard to avoid any kind of stricture and exclude India from the list.
AEPC has initiated a process of educating and preparing a compliance code for the exporters in the small and medium sector, with regard to labour reforms, flexible working hours, wage parity, proper working conditions and health and safety issues.
The government on its part will use diplomatic channels and has also appointed a lobbying firm in the US, which is expected to assist AEPC in the field of research besides sourcing information on US policy and labour laws.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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