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VITAS joined initiative asking for better purchasing practices in the textile and garment industry

27/01/2021 10:05 AM
VITAS joined with other 8 associations in 5 countries belong to STAR network to ask for better purchasing practices in the textile and garment industry

 

We join this initiative because we believe that “Responsible purchasing practices” is very important and essential to support the textile and garment industry towards sustainable development, and at the same time provides long-term benefits to garment workers and suppliers, said Ms Hoang Ngoc Anh – General Secretary of VITAS.

 

 Agreed with Ms. Anh, Mr. Tran Nhu Tung, Vice President of Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC (TCM) said: “Responsible purchasing practices are fundamental in safeguarding fair treatment of garment workers and to provide a healthy working environment. It is difficult for suppliers to be good employers if the buyers are not committed to responsible purchasing practices”

 

 

“We want to come together as associations and manufacturers in Asia, to agree on common positions regarding payment and delivery terms so that we have a stronger voice in individual and in collective discussions with brands and buyers on improving purchasing practices”, spokesperson Miran Ali, representing the STAR Network, stated.

The unique aspect about this initiative is manufacturers and the associations representing them can raise their voices and concerns around purchasing practices issues such as payment and delivery terms, pricing and negotiations, etc…This makes the initiative a true bottom-up approach. In addition, all nine member organizations from 6 countries under STAR network (GMAC, BGMEA, BKMEA, CNTAC, PTMA, PHMA, TMA, MGMA and VITAS) have committed their support to the initiative. “This common position will be powerful”, stated Miran Ali who estimates that the Network represents over 60% of all global apparel exports by manufacturers.

The textile and garment industry has been characterized by a power imbalance between the brands and buyers on the one end and the textile and garment producers on the other. This imbalance has been increased and made more visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, in which order cancellations, especially from European and US-brands and buyers, left many Asian producers with their backs against the wall. “The situation has been difficult before”, the initiatives' spokesperson Miran Ali explains, “but COVID-19 changed everything. However, it does not end with COVID-19!”

Until March 2021, the associations will work together in five working groups, defining their “red lines”, requests and recommendations on topics such as payment and delivery practices, planning and information exchange and third-party negotiations. Based on the output of the working groups, the second phase of the initiative will drive the roll-out in the industry. Many industry organizations and networks have already pledged support to the initiative.

The STAR Network serves as a platform for dialogue and trust-building to exchange on good practices to make textile and garment production more sustainable. It has been established in 2016 with the support of the German Development Cooperation Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, which implements a project called FABRIC Asia, that aims to foster sustainability in the Asian textile and garment industry on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

FULL DOCUMENT CAN BE FOUND HERE

This joint statement is made by members of the Sustainable Textile of Asian Region (STAR) Network (in alphabetical order):

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA)

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA)

China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC)

Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC)

Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA)

Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA)

Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA)

Towel Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (TMA)

Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS)

 

 

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