Fed training boosts SGMA’S labor compliance

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association (SGMA) wrapped up a training seminar last week with federal enforcement officials impressed by noticeable changes in employment conditions in Saipan’s garment sector.

SGMA executive director Richard A. Pierce said more than 70 participants from 31 SGMA member factories participated in the training which dealt extensively with the association’s Code of Conduct. The code imposes rigorous measures on the garment industry to comply with all applicable local and federal labor laws.

“I am very gratified to see that over the last three to four years there has been a remarkable turnaround in safety compliance, particularly in the garment industry,” commented Frank Strasheim, Region IX administrator of the U.S. Dept. of Labor, OSHA Division.

Mr. Pierce said last week’s training goes a long way toward meeting the numerous levels of compliance monitoring required under the SGMA Code.

“This was our most successful training seminar to date,” said Mr. Pierce. “Our overall attendance was up, and it kept increasing as the conference wore on. We’re confident that we can satisfy the many layers of compliance monitoring we are subject to, from our own internal teams, federal and local offices, our buyers, their retailers, and our association’s independent monitors, PricewaterhouseCoopers.”

The event, which is detailed on SGMA’s website at www.sgma-saipan.org, was made possible through an intensive effort by the SGMA, the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA and Wage & Hour Divisions, Safety 1st Systems (Saipan), Inc., the CNMI Dept. of Public Safety’s Fire and Traffic Divisions, the Saipan Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Tan Holdings to promote lawful compliance with local and federal laws and the SGMA Code of Conduct.

“Mr. Strasheim’s encouragement and recognition of our hard work are much appreciated,” said Mr. Pierce. “His cooperative attitude, and willingness to lend us a hand helped convince our members that we can work together toward our common goal of providing the safe workplace that all our employees deserve,” he said.

SGMA also acknowledged the professional and helpful presentations made by participating agencies throughout the week. Among them were Frank Sablan and Ernie Cruz of the Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Fire Division, who trained companies and their staff about fire safety; DPS’s Traffic Division conducted a session regarding traffic and pedestrian control; Cassandra Ely of the Saipan chapter of the American Red Cross spoke of the many services Red Cross provides the SGMA and the community as a whole; Thom Gipson from Safety 1st Systems consulted and trained in voluntary occupational safety; Martin Cabrera from Tan Holdings talked about food handling practices and procedures, and the Bloodborne Pathogen Act; and Chong Suik Park and Joe Salas assisted with a simulated factory OSHA inspection at Sam Marianas, Inc.