The government of India is reviewing the Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) after a recent report commissioned by the Ministry of Textiles claimed that the scheme has failed to achieve its objectives. The report, published by Wazir Advisors, cites a number of reasons for SITP’s poor performance, including high rents in textile parks, insufficient

Work has resumed at a Myanmar factory after it sustained US$75,000 in damages from a violent strike last month. The strike reportedly ensued following news that a union leader had been fired from the facility. The strike ended on February 25 after local officials in Myanmar ordered that the union leader be reinstated. (Frontier Myanmar)

Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe says the country needs to focus on diversifying its exports away from just textiles and garments if it wants to remain globally competitive. He noted that the country is facing increasing competition from nearby states like Bangladesh where wages are significantly lower than in Sri Lanka. Wickremesinghe says that

Swedish fashion company H&M says it is encouraging its global suppliers to begin paying their workers digitally in order to improve transparency and worker well-being. The announcement comes after the company joined the “Better Than Cash” initiative of the United Nations which advocates for digital and mobile banking. Company executives say that digital payments will

The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) says that it has opened up its Responsible Sport Initiative (RSI) audit sharing initiative to companies outside of the sporting goods industry. First launched last year by bicycle companies in the WFSGI, the RSI enables sharing of audits conducted by third-party providers approved by the RSI.

British risk analysis company Verisk Maplecroft has released its latest “Human Rights Outlook” describing the top human rights risks to businesses in 2017. The company says that a tightening of U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump could grow the risk of slavery and labor abuses against undocumented workers in the country as they are

A new report from Moody’s Investors Service says that while operating profits for the U.S. apparel and footwear industry are poised to improve over the next 12-18 months, growth will be more sluggish that originally anticipated. The report notes that many companies are still feeling pressured by the strengthening value of the U.S. dollar coupled

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is launching a new program in Uzbekistan aimed at helping cotton farmers improve their efficiency, safeguard the environment, and improve labor practices. The IFC says the effort is aimed at helping one of the country’s most crucial industries become more sustainable and respected around the world. While Uzbek cotton is

Better compliance across Bangladesh’s garment sector could increase readymade garment exports by nearly 10%, according to a new international report released by the Copenhagen Consensus Center and BRAC. The report noted that greater compliance reduces the probability of workplace accidents and cuts back on employee turnover, both of which can contribute to higher productivity. (Financial

Questions are being raised about the health of Cambodia’s garment industry following news of a higher than usual number of factory closures last year. Cambodia’s Ministry of Labor said that it documented 141 factory closures last year, nearly double the amount recorded in 2015. Ministry officials also say they recorded 149 factory openings for the