SGMA to hold another training for members

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association will hold its third round of intensive training on the observance of the group’s Code of Conduct for supervisors, managers and owners’ representatives of member factories .

The training will be participated in by the SGMA Business for Social Responsibility, a private firm, the U.S. Department of LaborOSHA regional division and local DOLI officials.

SGMA spokesperson Richard A. Pierce said the training is being conducted with cooperation’s between the industry, and officials of federal and local governments.

He described such cooperative process as the “litmus test of resolve” for all parties, both private and public.

On Aug. 23 and 24, the SGMA will assemble nearly 100 company representatives for the training by BSR and OSHA representatives.

The first two training conferences were held on Jan. 21-23, and Feb. 26.

The August sessions will conclude formal training.

SGMA has approved contract negotiations with Pricewaterhouse Coopers to serve as an external/independent monitoring firm for SGMA member companies, to ensure Code of Conduct compliance.

The two-day conference will include code reviews, patterns of noncompliance detection for internal compliance monitoring, record keeping, discrimination under the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, food procurement and handling and communication with factory workers for improving management-worker relations.

The highlight of the conference will be an on-site factory inspection conducted by OSHA enforcement/inspection officials to review health and safety practices of Saipan garment factory.

Participants will discuss how to effectively identify and correct common deficiencies in dormitory and cafeteria situations, and suggest compliance, non-compliance and best practices.

Local labor officials were offered the opportunity to attend, witness and re-evaluate their inspection procedures based on OSHA recommendations within the simulated factory inspection, in a letter from Pierce to Labor Secretary Mark D. Zachares.

SGMA and OSHA officials expect to unveil a cooperative agreement between the two entities called the “Excellence 2000” Program where SGMA member companies can voluntarily participate in an executive commitment to develop a formal safety and health program through the partnership agreement between SGMA and OSHA.

“SGMA, members have agreed to undertake all steps necessary to achieve full compliance with the Code of Conduct using all appropriate means to realize its goals, including participation in Association sponsored training, monitoring, reporting and compliance programs,” Pierce said.

“Although Excellence 2000 is a voluntary program, we feel our firms will want to do all they can to meet or exceed others expectations, and therefore we expect an ‘excellent’ Excellence 2000 participation level,” he added.