AAFA, FLA urge Jordan to back labour rights programmes
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and the Fair Labour Association (FLA) recently wrote to King Abdullah II of Jordan urging his government and all constituencies to fully support the future of the International Labour Organisation (ILO)-International Finance Corporation (IFC) Better Work Jordan programme and the Workers Centre, supported by ILO.
AAFA and FLA members include hundreds of American, European and Canadian buyers.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association and the Fair Labour Association recently wrote to King Abdullah II of Jordan urging his government and all constituencies to fully support the future of the ILO- IFC Better Work Jordan programme and the Workers Centre, supported by ILO. The elimination of these programmes would stymie the growth of Jordan's garment industry, their letter said.
ILO-IFC Better Work Jordan and the Workers Centre provide essential protections for and critical services to all workers in Jordan's garment industry—both Jordanian workers and foreign migrant workers, the letter, signed by AAFA president and chief executive officer (CEO) Steve Lamar and FLA president and CEO Jeff Vockrodt, read.
These provide buyers the guarantees they need to confidently source from Jordan as they provide assurance that international labour rights standards are being independently assessed and consistently met, both wrote.
'Without the guarantees that these two programmes provide buyers, buyers will lose trust that all workers in Jordan's garment industry are employed in safe, ethical, and fair workplaces,' the letter read.
The elimination of these programmes would stymie the growth of Jordan's garment industry, the letter said.
'At a time when buyers have to make significant decisions about the future of their sourcing, the disappearance of these programs will create uncertainty that will turn what should be a great opportunity for Jordan into an opportunity lost,' it added.
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