SGMA code leads to cooperation

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers presented its SGMA Code of Conduct to US Labor Wage and Hour Division Honolulu Assistant District Director David Boback, and Terrence Trotter, Director of Enforcement for the Guam/CNMI Wage & Hour Compliance Offices.

SGMA Chairman James C. Lin expressed his satisfaction that US Labor has agreed to participate by offering wage and hour compliance training as part of the newly adopted SGMA Code of Conduct. This federal training will complement training under the Code, by the independent firm retained by SGMA, which will begin the Code’s implementation in mid-January 1999 in Saipan.

SGMA Executive Director Richard A. Pierce spoke with Boback after the Code of Conduct was delivered, and meetings with garment representatives will be arranged after training of Labor officials in early February 1999. Training for compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act, for garment industry personnel, will be scheduled for mid-February.

Both the US Labor Division of Wage & Hour Compliance and first made their intentions known at a recently concluded meeting in Washington DC, at the invitation of US Labor, between several large brand name buyers, retailers, the National Retail Federation, the Office of Insular Affairs and US Labor and OSHA officials.

Pierce has received information about the meeting both prior to, and during, the Sixth Annual Business for Social Responsibility Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, November 18-20, 1998.

US Labor requested for a private groups to gather, where information could be presented regarding the “systemic” problems associated with the garment industry in Saipan. Both Wage & Hour and OSHA presented figures indicating wage and occupational safety deficiencies. Construction industry figures and barracks inspections of all industries were illustrated as well.

A private firm spokesperson, retained by SGMA during the BSR Conference weeks after the Labor meeting, spoke on behalf of the buyers and retailers and presented what the Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association was implementing through its Code of Conduct and training, that is scheduled to begin in January of 1999.

US Labor and OSHA officials were surprised and unaware of the nature and progress of the SGMA program, and further stated that they would be willing to participate by providing training under OSHA and the Fair Labor Standard Act.

Pierce confirmed US Labor’s intentions by telephone conference with US Labor’s Boback in Honolulu. Boback preferred to conduct training with SGMA after training of local CNMI and US Labor officials and staff which will be conducted the first week of February.