Iqbal Hamid Quraishi, a factory owner and director at the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, shared that although order volumes have increased since September, prices have continued to drop.
“There’s little room for negotiation with brands. They make it clear that if we don’t accept their prices, they’ll simply find other suppliers,” Quraishi explained. He added that the industry could recover, provided the second wave of COVID-19 doesn’t severely affect sales.
The Geneva-based International Organisation of Employers (IOE), a global network of businesses, emphasized that both brands and suppliers are working hard to find solutions amidst these “extremely difficult circumstances.”
Jean Milligan, an IOE spokesperson, noted, “Brands have shown responsibility by participating in the joint Call to Action in the Garment Industry. This initiative aims to help manufacturers weather economic disruptions and protect garment workers.”
The Call to Action, developed in April by the IOE and global unions, focuses on safeguarding workers’ incomes and supporting manufacturers during the pandemic. It advocates for loans, social protection programs, and unemployment support.
The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), a UK-based organization whose members include fashion giants H&M and Primark, emphasized that the pandemic should not be used as an excuse to overlook human rights. They argue that ensuring a sustainable and resilient supply chain is in everyone’s best interest.
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