Many global apparel brands and buyers say that the Bangladesh supply chain has too many weak links in order to remain competitive and reliable. Risk analysis firm Verisk Maplecroft says that the country has lost over US$4 billion in orders this year due to ongoing political protests between the ruling Awami League and the opposition

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen recently met with a delegation of U.S. Congress members, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, in Phnom Penh to address concerns over unfair labor practices and suppression of freedom of expression. One of the primary focuses of the meetings were to address allegations of labor abuses in the country’s burgeoning garment

A Chinese court has sentenced a man to death for starting a fire in the garment factory where he worked, an incident which claimed the lives of 14 other workers. Liu Shuangyun said he started the fire at the Shantou factory after his boss refused to pay him US$500 in wages that he claimed he

Over 9,000 small cotton farmers in Ethiopia will now receive support from the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) after successful verification in accordance with the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) sustainability standard. AbTF says it will cooperate with the Ethiopian Cotton Producers, Exporters, and Ginners Association (ECPGEA) to provide support to these growers. With this

Global NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) is asking German apparel and footwear brands to disclose the factories that produce their products around the world. In a public statement, HRW said that public disclosure of a company’s suppliers is a major step toward ensuring good working conditions in their factories, citing Adidas as an example, which

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Textiles (HKGCOT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Apparel Federation (IAF) aimed at increasing the flow of knowledge and business opportunities. Specifically, the IAF hopes that the MoU will help grow awareness among Hong Kong-based designers and investors regarding opportunities in the 50 other countries

A study conducted by an Indian NGO found that many young girls working in the textile mills of Tamil Nadu under the controversial Sumangali scheme are regularly subjected to physical, mental, and sexual abuse. The group Vaan Muhil surveyed 193 girls between October 2014 and February 2015 and found that many of them had developed

Myanmar has unveiled its first National Export Strategy to strike a balance between imports and exports. Working in conjunction with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the UN’s International Trade Centre, the 5-year plan aims to increase productivity and value addition in several export-oriented sectors, including textiles and garments, and normalize export procedures around the

Authorities in Nepal have arrested 3 owners of a carpet factory after discovering they were illegally employing 45 underage children. The children were between the ages of 12 and 16 and were rescued by a joint effort of local and national authorities. Nepalese law states that children under the age of 18 may not engage

Authorities in Pakistan have arrested 3 men accused of starting the 2012 Ali Enterprises fire that killed over 250 people. Police say they tracked the men to a hideout behind a local market and apprehended after a brief armed standoff. The men, who admitted to being affiliated with a local political party, admitted their involvement