AAFA welcomes DOL grant for Better Work Nicaragua

07 Oct '10

2 min read

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) applauded the U.S. Department of Labor's announcement of a $2 million grant to implement the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Better Work program in Nicaragua.

“The Announcement by the U.S. Department of Labor is a welcome step forward in furthering safe, ethical, and humane workplaces in Nicaragua,” said AAFA Executive Vice President Steve Lamar. “The outcome of this Better Work program is a win-win. This grant will not only help improve the lives of garment workers in Nicaragua but will, in turn, help create jobs for U.S. workers in the U.S. textile and apparel industry.”

"We applaud the Nicaraguan garment industry, the Nicaraguan workers, the Nicaraguan government for coming together with their buyers, U.S. brands, and retailers, to jointly make this commitment to launch the ILO Better Work Program,” said Lamar. "Without this commitment and without the U.S. Department of Labor's critical support, today's announcement could not have been possible."

Nicaragua is the 13th largest supplier of apparel products to the United States. As a member of the U.S. - Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), garments produced in Nicaragua have duty-free access to the United States when they use U.S.-made textiles.

By strengthening Nicaragua's position in the global apparel industry, the ILO Better Work program strengthens our mutually beneficial relationship between the U.S. and Nicaraguan textile and apparel industries.

"We look forward to working with all of the stakeholders to make the ILO Better Work Program in Nicaragua a success," concluded Lamar.

American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA)

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