In a letter addressed to US Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the organisations outline why the ILAB’s efforts helps to protect both US apparel, footwear, and accessories industry workers as well as those overseas.
AAFA and FLA stated: “As part of your longstanding dedication to protecting American workers, we urge you to fully preserve and promote the Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) and its programmes to defend workers.”
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The organisations pointed out that 97% of all apparel, footwear, and accessories sold in the US are sourced overseas.
However, the sector still directly provides 3.5m domestic jobs that offer competitive salaries across various functions such as design, research and development, compliance, logistics, marketing, retail, and manufacturing.
The organisations underscored ILAB’s global mission to create a level playing field for US workers by fostering institutions capable of upholding labour standards internationally.
This includes eradicating child labour and forced labour while promoting collective bargaining and freedom of association. ILAB also plays a pivotal role in educating workers about their rights and methods for defending them.
Moreover, ILAB stations labour attachés at US embassies in strategic countries to gather timely intelligence and develop solutions that advocate for worker protection. It also enforces labour provisions within trade agreements to ensure fair competition for US workers, the letter noted.
ILAB is instrumental as a key financier and manager of the International Labor Organisation’s Better Work programme. This initiative strengthens labour enforcement and transparency across numerous countries.
In the letter, the two groups lauded ILAB’s significant contributions under trade agreements like the USMCA and CAFTA-DR. These agreements not only necessitate the use of US-made textiles but also bolster their success.
AAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar said: “ILAB’s work is essential to support a level playing field for American workers. While the vast majority of clothes, shoes, and accessories sold in the United States are imported, our industry directly employs 3.5m American workers in good-paying jobs, in design, R&D, compliance, marketing, retail, and, yes, manufacturing.”
Fair Labor Association president and CEO Jeff Vockrodt added: “By promoting labour rights in sourcing countries, ILAB helps protect American workers. When labour standards are high across supply chains, companies, workers, and consumers reap the benefit. ILAB is a key part of these effective supply chains.”
Last month, AAFA published a whitepaper to shed light on the issues surrounding deceptive online platforms.
