China’s manufacturing sector has contracted at its fastest pace in over 6 years. The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), which measures the health of major manufacturing centers around the world, registered at 47.3 in August, marking the 6th consecutive month it has been below 50, the point that signifies positive growth. This comes despite significant government

The average price of textile and clothing imports in Europe jumped by 14.2% between January and April, according to Textiles Intelligence. The group says that the highest price increases came from exporting countries who supply clothes at the lowest average price, leading some to believe that the margins of suppliers in these countries are so

The Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA) is expressing concern that the recent currency devaluation in China could have a negative impact on India’s garment exports. The group says that the rupee has already depreciated to Rs. 66.65 per U.S. dollar, a trend that could continue thanks to currency devaluations that have also occurred in Vietnam. In

Thousands of workers in Indonesia staged a massive protest on September 1 speaking out against widespread layoffs and rising inflation. Labor-intensive industries, including textiles and garments, have faced massive job cuts in recent weeks as overall economic growth slows to record lows. Union leaders say they are also pushing for a 22% increase in the

The government of Myanmar has approved the country’s first-ever national minimum wage following 2 years of heated negotiations between industry and labor leaders. The rate has been set at 3,600 Kyat (US$2.80) for an 8-hour workday. Both government and industry leaders in the country hope that the new policy will help spur foreign investment by

Pakistan’s Commerce Minister says that the country is making “serious and well-planned” efforts to increase the quantity of value-added products generated by the textile sector in an effort to gain greater international market share. Speaking at a recent event hosted by the Pakistan Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), the minister noted that exports

The National Wage Council has determined that Vietnam’s minimum wages will increase by 12.4% next year. The increase was approved by a vote of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, each who had pushed for increases of 14.3% and 10.7% respectively. Minimum wages in Vietnam vary throughout

“Compliance is not an issue of bargaining or discussion.” That was the sentiment among a group of experts who participated in a recent discussion on the importance of compliance in Bangladesh’s garment sector recently held at the Centre for Policy Dialogue. Participants at the conference emphasized that the desire to address compliance concerns should be

Chhouk Bandith, a former governor convicted of shooting three female garment workers during a protest in 2012, has voluntarily surrendered to police after more than 2 years on the run. Bandith was convicted in abstentia in 2013 for causing “unintentional injuries” during the protest and sentenced to 18 months in jail, a conviction and sentence

At least 50 people have been confirmed dead following two massive explosions at the port of Tianjin, the 10th largest in the world. The blasts occurred during the nighttime hours on August 12 and were so massive, they were reported to be seen by satellites in space. While authorities say they are still looking into