"4,577 Philippine garment workers retrenched in Jan-Apr: CONWEP", 8 May '24

Four thousand five hundred seventy seven workers from 10 companies have been retrenched and 500 put on forced leave in the first four months this year, the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) said recently.

CONWEP executive director Maritess Jocson-Agoncillo said the retrenchments were done for various reasons like a soft market, the lack of orders or orders pulled out because of cheaper costs in other countries, contentions on US non-tariff policies and detention due to the US Customs’ Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act (UFLPA).

CONWEP member companies have been affected, with order worth $5million-$6 million compromised, she was cited as saying by domestic media reports...

Nine of the factories reported retrenchment or implemented forced leave of 3,077 workers between January and April. Five hundred of them were put on forced leave, but will hopefully be recalled back once orders resume...