- Friday, November 25: Launch of Trade Union World Briefing on Export Processing Zones in Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Taking on Grupo M
Accompanied by a 4-minute video Georges' Story
This report focuses on the EPZs of Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where some of the world's top brands manufacture their clothes. In the Dominican Republic, thousands of jobs have been lost due to the end of the textiles' quota system, leading to worsening working conditions in an already barren workers' rights landscape. On the other hand, Haitian workers recount their inspirational story of fighting back against the strong-arming tactics of the supplier giant Grupo M, with whom they are on the verge of signing the first ever collective agreement in the Ouanaminthe zone.
- Monday, December 5: Launch of Stitched up!: How those imposing unfair competition in the textiles and clothing industries are the only winners in this race to the bottom
This report examines the state of the global clothing and textiles industry one year on from the end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (the ATC).
It examines the economic devastation caused by the decision at the WTO to end quotas by 2005, without undertaking any employment impact assessments or providing suitable re-structuring support to the countries most affected. The report profiles the effects on the Philippines, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Bulgaria, Lesotho and Kenya and provides first hand accounts from workers in those countries of how unfair competition from China, largely built on the repression of its own workforce, is leading to job losses and downward pressure on their wages, conditions and rights.
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