A group of 8 fashion companies, including H&M, Inditex, and Primark, have agreed to pay more for their orders placed in Cambodia following new worker protests demanding that their minimum wage be increased to US$177 per month. In a letter to the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and the head of the Garment Manufacturers Association of

Textile and garment exports from Sri Lanka grew by 25% year-on-year in June to reach US$446 million, according to the country’s Central Bank. The textile sector also contributed over 50% to the country’s overall growth in exports during the month. Sales to Europe experienced the highest growth at 34.6%, while sales to the United States

The U.S. Trade Representative says that the dispute settlement process in the 2011 labor enforcement case, initially brought under the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), will remain suspended for an additional 4 weeks as U.S. officials review information from Guatemalan officials regarding labor reforms they have implemented. Guatemala agreed to an 18-point

Three workers in a garment factory were killed after their facility caught fire on August 25. Witnesses spotted smoke coming out of the building early that morning, but noted that the factory doors had been locked from the outside by the owner, which prevented the workers inside from escaping. The owner of the factory has

The Nicaraguan Association of Textile and Apparel says that it is ramping up its efforts to attract new foreign investment. Trade officials in the country have expressed concern that the United States will not approve an extension of the Tariff Preference Level (TPL) policy, which allows duty-free export of some clothing products to the United

Textile and clothing sales in the Czech Republic increased by 10.7% during the first half of 2014, according to the Association of Textile, Clothing, and Leather Industries, to reach US$1.2 million, which is the highest level of sales recorded since the country’s recent economic crisis. Production in the industry also increased during this period; textile

At least 21 people were reported injured after a bus transporting garment factory workers skidded off the road early on the morning of August 19. All victims were transported to the hospital where they were treated for their injuries. Investigators say that they are looking in to the incident. (Sunday Times)   Sri Lanka-based Mihila,

U.S. buyers have increased the amount of nonwoven textile products they are buying from China, while their purchases from India have slipped. In 2013, China’s share of nonwoven imports grew to 18.02% over 17.08% in the previous year while India’s share dropped to just 2.96% from 3.47%. (Fibre2Fashion)

South Korea has committed to support apparel industry training efforts in Sri Lanka.The Korean International Cooperation Agency says that it has already donated US$20,000 in equipment to the country, including 13 industrial-grade sewing machines and heavy-duty cutting machines. A group of 20 trainers are also preparing to execute the effort. (Fibre2Fashion)

A strike involving over 3,000 South African textile workers has ended after the dispute over wages was resolved. With the help of intervention from the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration, members of the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) have accepted a two-year agreement on a wage hike of 8.5% which retroactively