Sustainable Fashion: A Handbook for Educators

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sustaInaBlE FashIon : a handBooK For Educators

Answer G 2

The age of most garment workers in Bangladesh ranges from

20 to 29 years. The average age of the female garment

workers in Bangladesh rose from 19 years to about 24 years

in the 1990s.

Source: Hurley, J. (ed.) (2003) Garment Industry Subcontracting

and Workers’ Rights: Report of Women Working Worldwide Action

Research in Asia and Europe, Women Working Worldwide, UK

(p. 43).

Answer G 1

90% of the workers employed in production in Bulgaria

are women.

Owners: 10% women

Management: 20% women

Administrative personnel: 50% women

Workers in production: 90% women

Home-based workers: 100% women

Source: Hurley, J. (ed.) (2003) Garment Industry Subcontracting

and Workers’ Rights: Report of Women Working Worldwide Action

Research in Asia and Europe, Women Working Worldwide, UK

Answer G 4

A ‘maquila’ or ‘maquiladora’ is the Mexican word to refer to a

factory that manufactures products for export. It is a factory or

assembly plant operated in Mexico under preferential

tariff programmes established by the US and Mexican

governments to encourage the development of industry in

Mexico. Mexico allows materials to be used in maquilas to enter

duty-free, provided the finished product is then immediately

exported out of Mexico. The US in turn charges these products

a much lower tariff than products from other countries.

Source: http://www.twinplantnews.com/whatIs.htm

Answer G 3

EPZs or FTZs are geographical areas designated for

manufacturing that have special status when it comes to

taxation and other laws. Most of the FTZs/EPZs have been set

up in developing countries with the aim of attracting foreign

investors and reducing unemployment and poverty, and to

stimulate the area ́s economy. They are regarded by companies

as good zones in which to invest and set up labour intensive

manufactoring centres, due to tax breaks and the elimination

of quotas and tariffs. Working conditions are often poor and

environmental protection rules non-existent. These zones are

often used by multinational corporations to set up factories for

the production of goods (such as clothing or shoes).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_trade_zone

Answer G 6

Being a woman and getting pregnant has proved to be one

of the biggest problems in maquiladoras as many women are

forced to resign because of pregnancy. There are a number of

other problems faced by women including long hours, low pay,

sexual harassment, lack of rights to join a trade union and poor

health and safety.

Source: http://hrw.org/reports/1996/Mexi0896.htm

Answer G 5

The primary advantage to US companies is the lower cost of

labour in Mexico. Labour typically costs about $21 an hour in

the United States, compared to about $5 an hour in Mexico.

Other advantages include more favourable labour laws in

Mexico, and fewer union-driven work rules.

Source: http://www.twinplantnews.com/whatIs.htm

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