FLA and AAFA call for defense of the U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of International Labor Affairs

WASHINGTON, March 11 – In a joint letter to the newly confirmed United States Secretary of Labor, The Honorable Lori Chavez-DeRemer, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) and the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) both offer congratulations and a firm call to fully preserve and promote the Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) and its programs to defend workers. 

On behalf of the hundreds of American brands and retailers represented by the two associations, the letter states, “As part of your longstanding dedication to protecting American workers, we urge you to fully preserve and promote the Department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs … ILAB works to build institutions in countries around the world so that they can effectively protect their workers, raising labor standards, including eliminating child labor and forced labor and promoting freedom of association and collective bargaining. ILAB provides training to workers so they know their rights and how to defend them. ILAB deploys labor attachés to U.S. embassies in key countries to provide real time intelligence, contacts, and solutions to promote and protect workers. ILAB enforces the labor provisions in trade agreements to ensure a level playing field for American workers. And finally, ILAB is a critical funder and manager of the International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Better Work program, which establishes strong labor enforcement and transparency in key countries around the world.”

The groups extoll the virtues of ILAB’s extensive work under the U.S./Mexico/Canada Agreement and the U.S./Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, promotes the success of these agreements, which require the use of U.S.-made textiles.

“By promoting labor rights in sourcing countries, ILAB helps protect American workers,” said Jeff Vockrodt, president and CEO of the Fair Labor Association. “When labor standards are high across supply chains, companies, workers, and consumers reap the benefit. ILAB is a key part of these effective supply chains.”

“ILAB’s work is essential to support a level playing field for American workers. While the vast majority of clothes, shoes, and accessories sold in the United States are imported, our industry directly employs 3.5 million American workers in good-paying jobs, in design, R&D, compliance, marketing, retail, and, yes, manufacturing,” said AAFA president and CEO Steve Lamar.

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The Fair Labor Association (FLA) promotes human rights at work. We are an international network of companies, universities, and civil society organizations collaborating to ensure that millions of people working at the world’s factories and farms are paid fairly and protected from risks to their health, safety, and well-being.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. Representing more than 1,000 world famous name brands, AAFA is the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management and shareholders, its more than 3.2 million U.S. workers, and its contribution of more than $490 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA drives progress on three key priorities: Brand Protection; Supply Chain & Sourcing; and Trade, Logistics, & Manufacturing. AAFA approaches this work through the lens of purpose-driven leadership in a manner that supports each member’s ability to build and sustain inclusive and diverse cultures, meet and advance ESG goals, and draw upon the latest technology.

FLA CONTACT:
Stacy Hope
communications@fairlabor.org

AAFA CONTACT:
Natalie LaBella
media@aafaglobal.org