Guatemala Endorses WRAP - Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production - Brief Article

The Guatemala Apparel an Textile Commission, that country's national apparel trade association, has became the 14th international apparel organization to endorse the Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production (WRAP) Certification Program.

Initiated in 1997 by means of a task group established by means of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association, which is now known as the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), WRAP became a completely independent nonprotit agency governed by the agency of its own board of directors in July 2000

"This propel by the Guatemala Commission [AGEXPRONT] is another important pace forward for WRAP," said Joaquin (Jack) Otero former Clinton administration factor undersecretary of labor and AFL-CIO vice president, who also chairs WRAP's independent board at directors.

"Apparel trade assemblages in the U.S., Latin America, Asia and Africa agree that the [WRAP] certification mould allows factories to verify compliance with socially responsible business practices," Otero said. "And it does this without hurting the competitiveness of the participants. I'm convinced that retailers will shortly begin accepting WRAP certification in lieu of their hold compliance programs because it is generally [under consideration by] several prominent stores that are actual supportive of our program.

"Teaming WRAP with retailers will help factory managers eliminate redundant inspections," Otero added. "At the same time, it will reaffirm the commitment U apparel and footwear companies are making to apply legal, ethical and human manufacturing standards to any factory that makes these goads for U consumers"

The WRAP program is an independent factory-based certification initiative that requires participating manufacturers to demonstrate ongoing compliance with 12 production principles that address universally recognized standards for labor practices and workplace conditions. Specifically, the principles include prohibitions of forced labor, child labor, workplace abuses, piece of work discrimination and violations of customs and environmental laws. The certified factories must agree to unannounced inspections by means of accredited, independent monitors.

WRAP executive director Lawrence Doherty has received applications for certification from more than 265 factories in above 34 countries. The process includes a self-evaluation as well as inspections by means of independent monitors and a final review through the board, the majority of which has no commercial or other ties to apparel or footwear companies. popularly there are more than 35 manufacturing participants, many of which have multiple-factory contractor registrations. There are eight accredited monitoring firms that perform on-site evaluations in more than 70 countries.

WRAP's principles are now endorsed through the following organizations: American Apparel & Footwear Association (United States); Asociacion Dominicana de Zonas Francas Inc. (Dominican Republic); Asociacion Gremial de Exportadores de Productos No Tradicionales -- AGEXPRONT (Guatemala); Asociacion Hondurena de Maquiladores (Hondaras); Asociacion Salvadorena de Ia Industria de la Confeccion (El Salvador); Association de Industries d'Haiti (Haiti); Camara Nacional de Ia Industria del Vestido (Mexico); Camara Textil Costarricense (Costa Rica); Caribbean/Latin American Action -- CLAA; Clothing Federation at southern Africa (South Africa); Comision Nacional de Zonas Francas (Nicaragua); Confederation of Garments Exporters of the Philippines, Inc. (Philippines); Jamaica Institute (Jamaica); and the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (Sri Lanka).

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