BHRRC sent a short survey aimed at understanding in detail the engagement apparel brands have had with their suppliers amidst the continued disruption of the garment industry in Bangladesh caused by the gas crisis and quota reform protests in 2024.

We asked brands to respond to the following questions regarding their suppliers in light of the ongoing gas crisis and protests that began in May 2024.

PVH response:

1. Have you, as a matter of policy, directed your sourcing team to forgive any delivery delays resulting from the disruption to the garment industry and suspend the imposition of penalties until the region has recovered? If yes, please include details. If no, please explain why this decision was made.

PVH will not be imposing any penalties on its suppliers for any delivery delays resulting from the recent disruptions.

a. Has your company imposed any penalty on a supplier in the region as a result of delayed delivery? If yes, please share details on any penalties imposed and the circumstances for such penalties.

Suppliers will not be held responsible for any related delivery delays or production losses and therefore no penalties will be imposed on them.

2. Have you, as a matter of policy, directed your sourcing team not to seek price concessions from suppliers in the affected region on both new and current orders? Please share details on specific actions and measures taken.

We will seek no price concessions from any suppliers in the affected region on current or new orders.

3. How has your company monitored the payment of worker wages in supplying factories and ensured that wages have been paid on time and in full during July-August?

We have confirmed with our supply chain partners that July monthly wages are paid in full, including for the days when factories were non-operational due to disruptions and were considered paid holidays, per the Govt. directives. The same will be applied for the month of August. We are also collaborating with the ILO/ Better Work team in Bangladesh, to ensure that wages have not just been paid on time, but also paid in full during the months of July and August.

a. Regarding worker wages, has your company provided any of the following forms of assistance or improved payment terms to suppliers in the region in order to help them continue business operations and ensure workers’ July-August wages are paid in full? Please provide details

i. Accelerated payment on orders recently delivered, in transit, or in production? Y/N

ii. Improved payment terms on new orders? Y/N

iii. Provided low-interest or no-interest financing to suppliers? Y/N

iv. Provided direct financial assistance to suppliers? Y/N

v. Covered the cost of air shipments? Y/N

PVH believes in fair and equitable purchasing practices with its suppliers, and we continue to provide support to any supplier that seeks additional help for orders which are in-production, in-transit or recently delivered.

4. How are you ensuring order stability at the suppliers you source from, to ensure suppliers can maintain business operations and maintain jobs for workers, including confirming future orders and prices with factories? Please share details.

a. Have you committed to receiving and paying for all orders placed with suppliers before and during the crises the industry has faced since May 2024. Please share details.

b. Have you transferred orders from your suppliers in Bangladesh to suppliers in other apparel-producing countries in response to the crises? Please share further details on why this decision was made.

We have neither reduced our orders nor are we delaying payments against orders from our Bangladesh suppliers. While we continue to assess the crisis in Bangladesh daily, we currently do not intend to transfer orders from our Bangladesh suppliers to other countries.

5. What steps are you taking in collaboration with trade union and worker representatives at supplier factories to ensure the physical and mental wellbeing and safety of your workers? How do you plan to support your suppliers and workers long-term?

PVH is part of the ACT commitment, an agreement between 20 global brands and IndustriALL Global Union, in pursuit of brand-supported collective bargaining for workers in textile and garment supply chains. All brands that are ACT members commit to responsible purchasing practices, to enable the transformation of the way wages and working conditions are set in the global garment, textile and footwear sector.