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Labour market conditions in Myanmar has witnessed ‘significant deterioration’ since the military took power in February this year, according to estimates released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which recently said employment contracted by an estimated 6 per cent in the second quarter of 2021 compared to the fourth quarter of 2020, reflecting 1.2 million job losses. In the first half …

Large patches of apparel-producing zones in Asia will be under water by 2030, threatening thousands of suppliers with submersion unless they relocate to higher ground, an analysis by two Cornell University researchers showed. It was part of a paper commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO) released last week. It overlaid maps of rising sea levels onto factory locations. The analysis by …

China’s textile and apparel (T&A) imports from Europe increased to $2 billion during January-April 2021 from $1.4 billion during the corresponding period in the previous year. As per a Textile Value Chain report, China’s imports from Europe grew 44.11 per cent during January-April 2021. Imports from Vietnam increased 35.74 per cent to $1.7 billion in 2021 during the same period. …

India’s Finance Ministry has refused to remove 10 per cent duty on cotton imports saying it benefits domestic producers. However, garment manufacturers argue the 10 cent duty on cotton imports makes export of high-quality clothing uncompetitive in the international market, reports United News of India. Amit Sethi, Joint Managing Director, Orient Fashions alleges, the duty makes import of high-quality cotton …

Ghana’s apparel exports are being continuously threatened by the low-cost, high-volume competing exports from China and other Asian countries, says the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA). The sector’s prospects are linked to the relative speed with which it can be set up and the large impact on employment-generation, especially in industrial settings. In a Ghana Web report, the association says, …

The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) report 2020 revealed the impact of Covid-19 on the organic cotton farming industry, the challenges still to come and how collaboration is key to securing a market for organic cotton farmers. The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) 2020 report revealed it secured higher net profits for organic farmers in its Farm Programme for a third year, despite …

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has published a new report that reveals it is possible for fashion and apparel brands to make jeans fit for today’s circular economy. ‘The Jeans Redesign: Insights from the first two years’ reveals the barriers, solutions and innovation gaps faced by the 72 brands, retailers, garment manufacturers, fabric mills and laundries signed up to The Jeans Redesign’s common …

Iran’s garment exports reached over $113 million during the previous Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended March 20), registering a 99 per cent rise year on year, according to Afsaneh Mehrabi, director general of the weaving and garment industries department at the ministry of industry, mining and trade. The value of such exports in the year 1398 was $59 million. Speaking …

Sri Lanka’s Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) is optimistic about the possibility of securing an industry-critical extension of the European Union’s generalised scheme of preferences plus (EU GSP+) programme following its third round of discussions with the ministry of regional cooperation on July 16 on reforms and strategy to secure the facility again. “We were pleased to learn that the …

The US Treasury Department has reached an agreement with the State Bank of Vietnam to address concerns it had over the southeast Asian country’s currency practices. The US treasury dropped Vietnam from its list of currency manipulators in April; a move seen as reassurance the US might not impose new tariffs, quotas or other restrictions on Vietnamese imports as part …