COVID-19: Challenges and Impact on the Garment and Textile Industry
The ILO Siraye programme on Advancing Decent Work and Inclusive Industrialization in Ethiopia hosted the first of a planned series of webinar aimed at bringing together representatives from the garment and textile factories and brands to address challenges and concerns emerging since the outbreak of COVID-19.
14 April 2020
Twenty-eight representatives from FDI and local factories as well as global brands across Ethiopia attended the webinar series that took place on April 10, 2020. The meeting also served as a platform to share best practices performed by factories to educate workers about Corona virus and put in place preventive measures whilst still in operation.
Resources are also tight. PPE equipment, thermometer, alcohol and sanitizers are running low. Further information and training to the factory’s medical staff on how to deal with suspected cases was a much needed concern raised among factories.
At this point, factories are trying their best to reduce the number of employee layoff and continue operating by shifting their target market locally. However, concerns are high when it comes to the feasibility of maintaining operation in the current condition and hope for the global demand to go back to normal so that operation can continue as usual.
The ILO will continue to work closely with the government to provide needed support during this time. Regular webinar with partners and stakeholder and will continue to be facilitated by the ILO to ensure coordinated and demand driven intervention for the industry.
Measures being taken by factories
Beyond the work being done at the government and sectorial levels to increase the awareness level of workers, some factories have taken the initiative to also reduce the number of workers by half to ensure social distancing whist also providing additional buses for transportation services to and from work. Temperature measurement and mandatory hand wash of workers upon entry and leaving as well as distribution of PPE material are also being carried out by some factories.Resources are also tight. PPE equipment, thermometer, alcohol and sanitizers are running low. Further information and training to the factory’s medical staff on how to deal with suspected cases was a much needed concern raised among factories.
At this point, factories are trying their best to reduce the number of employee layoff and continue operating by shifting their target market locally. However, concerns are high when it comes to the feasibility of maintaining operation in the current condition and hope for the global demand to go back to normal so that operation can continue as usual.
The ILO will continue to work closely with the government to provide needed support during this time. Regular webinar with partners and stakeholder and will continue to be facilitated by the ILO to ensure coordinated and demand driven intervention for the industry.
The ILO Siraye programme on Advancing Decent Work and Inclusive Industrialization in Ethiopia hosted the first of a planned series of webinar aimed at bringing together representatives from the garment and textile factories and brands to address challenges and concerns emerging since the outbreak of COVID-19.