Sweden-based fashion retailer H&M is denying claims that it uses cotton from areas in Ethiopia that are vulnerable to land grabbing, which is the buying or leasing of land in developing nations, often by foreign interests, without the consent of the local communities. The allegations were made by the Swedish channel TV4. In a statement,

After a 17-month hiatus, the U.S. government says that it is renewing the complaint process against Guatemala under the CAFTA-DR agreement alleging that the country has done little to step up enforcement of its labor laws. The issue dates back to 2011 when the U.S. requested an arbitral panel under the agreement to address Guatemala’s

Ho Chi Minh City’s Municipal Department of Trade and Industry says that the city will need an additional 20,000 workers, including skilled laborers, by next year in order to achieve a national goal of becoming the nation’s fashion center by 2020. A master plan set forth by the Department of Trade and Industry calls for

The U.S. Department of Labor says that there are over 168 million child laborers around the world, about 10% of the world’s total youth population. The findings were part of a new report titled “Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor,” which looked at data from over 140 countries around the world and noted

A retired textile worker in the U.K. is seeking justice from her former employers after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. The 83-year-old woman, diagnosed with the disease earlier this year, alleges that she was exposed to asbestos dust while working in several textile mills throughout her career. The woman is seeking assistance from her former co-workers

The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA) is urging all government agencies and ministries to use locally-made garments and textile products in order to boost the local industry. These include uniforms, socks, and t-shirts. The UMA says that locally-made products are of better quality than imported goods and says that similar policies in countries like Egypt has

The Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) is speaking out against the cessation of gas supplies to local garment factories due to system maintenance. The group calls the move “arrogant” and says that it was done without consulting them about the possible economic consequences. It’s estimated that the cutoff could cost millions in lost production. (Daily

Knitwear trade unions in India are pushing for higher bonuses after news of significant gains in exports. Workers’ groups are also pushing factories to pay the bonuses on time because they say bonuses are typically paid late. Exports of knitwear from India grew 50% year-on-year in FY 2014. (The Hindu)

Fashion Takes Action, a Canadian non-profit group that focuses on sustainability in the fashion sector, says that it will host the first World Ethical Apparel Roundtable (WEAR) in Toronto early next month. The event is slated to bring together apparel brands, retailers, sustainability experts, and other industry stakeholders to discuss solutions to social and environmental

The Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia says that a last-minute decision by the government to delay a vote on the new minimum wage would hurt the relationship between factories and workers and also scar buyers’ confidence in the country. The government’s Labor Advisory Committee was initially scheduled to vote on the measure on October 3,