AAFA, FLA urge US govt to 'preserve, protect and promote' ILAB

In a letter to the secretary, AAFA president and chief executive officer (CEO) Steve Lamar and FLA president and CEO Jeff Vockrodt said they rely on the work of ILAB, which works globally to ensure a level-playing field for American workers.

While 97 per cent of all clothes, shoes and accessories sold in the United States are imported, our industry directly employs 3.5 million American workers.

ILAB’s work furthers the interest of American workers and American businesses, it noted.

ILAB works to build institutions in countries around the world so that they can effectively protect their workers by raising labour standards, including eliminating child and forced labour and promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining.

ILAB provides training to workers so they know their rights and how to defend them. It enforces the labour provisions in trade agreements to ensure a level playing field for American workers, the letter said.

ILAB is also a critical funder and manager of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Better Work programme, which establishes strong labour enforcement and transparency in key countries around the world.

ILAB is a good friend and important partner to both American workers and American business, as demonstrated by the strong support ILAB receives from both the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO) and American industry, the letter added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)