The USAID (US Agency for International Development) has signed a MoU with a group of apparel, retail and footwear companies and industry associations from USA to stand beside their supply chain workers in Asia.
According to media reports, USAID Deputy Administrator Bonnie Glick and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) Steve Lamar signed the new Memorandum of Understanding – the MoU is signed to pursue much-needed relief to the predominantly female workers in the supply chains in Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia – on behalf of the respective entities during a virtual programme of US Government’s third annual Indo-Pacific Business Forum.
The event was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, recently.
As per reports, the MoU establishes intent for USAID and the consortium to work together over the coming year to alleviate hardships faced by AAFA workers in the above-mentioned Asian countries.
Levi Strauss & Company; Target; VF Corporation; Gap, Inc.; Tapestry; Carter’s, Inc.; the US Fashion Industry Association; Global Brands Group; the American Apparel and Footwear Association; Nike; the National Retail Federation; Walmart; and the Retail Industry Leaders Association are amongst the participating companies and industry associations, underlined a press communique issued in this regard.
