Second phase of Garments Without Guilt program launched

by Lalin Fernandopulle

The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) launched the second phase of Garments Without Guilt (GWG) program to promote the concept of producing garments according to ethical standards for international buyers.

JAAF launched the GWG program in 2006 to stress the positive aspects of the country's garment industry and build confidence among international buyers that garments are produced according to ethical and compliance standards.

Chairman, Image Building and Marketing Committee JAAF, Kumar Mirchandani said promoting a concept of this nature will help the garment industry to build confidence among buyers and be ahead of the competitors in good manufacturing practices.

Sri Lanka is ahead of its regional competitors such as Vietnam, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan in observing ethical and compliance standards. Our garment factories are not sweat shops with forced recruitment or child labour. We need to tell the world that we produce garments according to ethical and social standards", Mirchandani said.

The welfare of employees, good working conditions and concern for the environment are at times not observed in some of our competing countries. Short term strategies to increase profits are the primary concern of most garment factories in the region.

Employees in the garment industry in Sri Lanka are provided incentives such as free transport, subsidised meals, attendance and production incentives and medical and loan facilities.

He said though not all companies in Sri Lanka are perfect in producing garments according to ethical standards many have realised the importance of it and are taking steps to improve the standard of the working environment and the employees' welfare.

JAAF with the assistance of SGS, an internationally recognised auditing body is providing training to employees to improve the quality of work and the working conditions in factories.

To obtain a GWG certificate from SGS the factory cannot be a sweat shop, employ children underage, harass employees and disregard the environment.

Mirchandani said even a small company will market their products and compete better by manufacturing garments according to ethical and compliance standards.

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