Guatemala Endorses WRAP - Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production - Brief Article

Bobbin,  May, 2001  by Jules Abend

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

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

"Apparel trade groups in the U.S., Latin America, Asia and Africa agree that the [WRAP] certification model 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 soon begin accepting WRAP certification in lieu of their own compliance programs because it is currently [under consideration by] several prominent stores that are very 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.S. apparel and footwear companies are making to apply legal, ethical and human manufacturing standards to any factory that makes these goads for U.S. 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, job discrimination and violations of customs and environmental laws. The certified factories must agree to unannounced inspections by accredited, independent monitors.

WRAP executive director Lawrence Doherty has received applications for certification from more than 265 factories in over 34 countries. The process includes a self-evaluation as well as inspections by independent monitors and a final review by the board, the majority of which has no commercial or other ties to apparel or footwear companies. Currently, 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 by 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 des 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 South 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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