The proposal by Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) for introducing further trade sanctions will put more than 4,000 jobs in Fijian garment industry at risk, Fiji's Textile Clothing Footwear (TCF) Council has said.
The Council said the ACTU move would also affect creation of new employment opportunities, investment, poverty alleviation and the country's economy as the garment exports account for US$ 95 million of revenues brought into the country each year.
As stated by the Council, the textile industry has just started reviving from the effects of a considerable fall of 25 percent in exports during 2009 and 2010, and further trade sanctions would come as a fresh blow to the industry.
The TCF Council said that it is also worrisome that after publicly launching the anti-industry campaign, ACTU now wants to send a fact-finding mission to Fiji.
ACTU has been concerned for some time about the treatment of Fijian workers and alleged violence towards union leaders.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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