United States

The National Retail Federation (NRF) is urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to resume their contract negotiations in an effort to avoid slowdowns at the country’s major container ports. The ILWU recently announced that they would put negotiations on hold until December 2. The NRF is urging U.S. President Barack Obama to intervene in an effort to bring both parties back to the negotiating table and draft a new contract. (Fibre2Fashion)

U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee recently lauded Bangladesh for its empowerment of women via the readymade garments sector. Bangladesh’s ambassador to the United States recently met with Jackson-Lee, where he discussed numerous reforms that the country has passed that favor women. He also reiterated his country’s commitment to increase the opportunities that women have to get ahead. (Fibre2Fashion)