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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202/219-7316
Three major apparel companies have been added to the U.S. Department of
Labor's Trendsetter List--a directory of garment retailers and manufacturers
that take additional steps to ensure their goods are not made in sweatshop
conditions.
The additions to the list are: Esprit de Corp, the San Francisco-based
retailer (24 stores) and manufacturer of women's and children's sportswear and
accessories, as well as the Dr. Seuss sportswear line; Eddie Bauer, the
Redmond, Washington-based division of Spiegel Group, which sells private label
men's and women's sportswear (Eddie Bauer, AKA Eddie Bauer, EBTek and Eddie
Bauer Home) through its catalogs and 450 retail outlets; and Phillips-Van
Heusen, the New York-based retailer and manufacturer of Van Heusen, Gant, G.H.
Bass, Geoffrey Beene, Jantzen and Izod lines.
"The difference between following trends and setting them comes down to
doing what is right," said Acting Secretary of Labor Cynthia A. Metzler when
announcing the Trendsetter List additions. "Esprit, Eddie Bauer and
Phillips-Van Heusen rightly deserve to be called Trendsetters because they do
more than just say they are against sweatshops--they actually do something
about the problem."
Metzler made the announcement to coincide with the 86th anniversary of
the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory fire--where 145 garment workers died as
a result of sweatshop conditions.
The three companies join a virtual "who's who" of retailers and
manufacturers, including Jessica McClintock, Jones Apparel Group, L.L. Bean,
Lands End, Levi Strauss and Co., Liz Claiborne, Nicole Miller, Nordstrom,
Patagonia, Reebok International Ltd., Quicksilver, Talbot's, The Gap, The
Limited, VF Corporation, Warnaco and dozens of others who have already made the
Trendsetter List. Today's announcement brings the number of Trendsetters to 34
companies--representing more than 125 apparel lines and tens of thousands of
retail stores across North America.
Begun by former Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich in 1995, the list is
based on information provided by the companies about their voluntary efforts to
ensure that their goods are made in compliance with labor laws. To be included,
companies must demonstrate a commitment to labor laws, cooperate with law
enforcement agencies when violations of the law are found, educate suppliers
regarding the FLSA, and regularly monitor their cutting and sewing contractors
and subcontractors.
In addition, Metzler announced that the department's Wage and Hour
division and the New York City Fire Department (NYFD) have entered into a
"Sweatshop Partnership." The NYFD and the department will refer suspected labor
and fire code violations to each other to better coordinate and marshal their
limited resources.
"It is fitting that we announce this partnership on the anniversary of
the Triangle Shirtwaist Company factory fire, where more than 145 young women
died senselessly because of sweatshop conditions in their workplace. The
egregious and pervasive nature of the violations in this industry require the
eyes and cooperation of everyone. I congratulate the NYFD for suggesting this
effort and look forward to working with them," Metzler said.
Since last March, the department has stepped up its garment enforcement
activities in New York City, conducting 361 investigations and recovering
$747,000 in back wages for 2,400 workers for minimum wage and overtime
violations.
Metzler also announced the scheduling of more compliance monitoring
workshops for manufacturers. The workshops will be held in May in Dallas, Los
Angeles and New York City.
Metzler said that consumers interested in learning more about the "No
Sweat" initiative should contact the U.S. Department of Labor or visit the
department's Internet web site at www.dol.gov and click on the "No Sweat" hot
button for the most current information, including the entire Trendsetter List,
Quarterly Garment Enforcement Reports, and suggestions on how consumers can get
involved.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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