A latest report released by the International Labor Organization on the 20th shows that women working in the garment and textile industry are facing many severe challenges due to the severe impact of the epidemic on the garment industry.
The International Labor Organization’s report titled “The Impact of the Epidemic on Gender in the Garment Industry” pointed out that due to the impact of the epidemic, the service industry has been hit hard, which has brought considerable pressure to many women working in the industry. These pressures include not only widely varying wage levels, but also potential employment or job discrimination, insufficient voice channels, and additional household chores.
The report shows that Asia is the main export region of the global apparel industry, accounting for 60% of global apparel exports. In 2019, there were approximately 65 million garment industry workers in the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for 75% of the total global garment industry workers.
The report shows that due to the epidemic, clothing imports from Asia by major purchasing countries fell by 70% in the first half of 2020. This has not only led to a sharp increase in worker unemployment and layoffs, but factories that have reopened are also facing labor shortages.
The report shows that women account for more than half of the labor force in the Asian garment industry, and account for a large proportion of low-wage jobs at the lower levels of the global supply chain in the garment industry.
According to reports, sample surveys in some Asian countries show that in Cambodia, nearly 80% of the labor force in the garment industry is female; in Indonesia, this proportion is about 58%; in Pakistan, the proportion is 33%. According to another report, in terms of gender pay gap, the gender pay gap in Asia is 18%. Among the above-mentioned sample survey countries, Pakistan has a large gender pay gap, reaching 57.3%.
The International Labor Organization recommends that countries should pay more attention to factory closures and layoffs and create favorable conditions for workers to return to work. Ensuring that women have a voice and representation in conversations and decision-making is also seen as a key factor in ensuring a full recovery for the industry. Otherwise, the epidemic crisis may exacerbate existing inequalities and hinder the development of the apparel industry. </p
