Public Seminar: Multi-Fibre Agreement

MFA PHASE-OUT: Who gains? Who loses?

27 October 2004, 1 pm – 5 pm
Venue: St Giles Hotel, Bedford Avenue, London WC1B 3AS
Getting there: Nearest tube station is Tottenham Court Road on the Central Line
Download Map & Directions [PDF, 50kb].

Why the commotion?

Textiles and clothing trade is a vital part of the world economy with many nations heavily dependent on the sector for foreign exchange earnings and employment generation. The Multi-Fibre Arrangement (MFA) has ensured that developing countries have a guaranteed quota of manufactured clothing for export to advanced economies. With the phasing out in 2005 of the MFA these quotas will no longer be assured leading to considerable apprehension for countries who will be obliged to compete in the international economy and against China and India who are seem to be the winners post 2004.

The prediction is that there will be huge job losses in many cases in the poorest countries in the world. These circumstances present a huge challenge to all our members, companies, trade unions and NGOs and to others who are promoting workers rights if, as predicted, there is a huge job loss which will have devastating implications on social stability in many garment producing countries.

Objectives

To increase members’ understanding of the forthcoming phase out of the MFA. By providing :

• an overview of the MFA
  • why it was introduced,
  • what the effects of MFA have been and,
  • in particular, how the phasing out of the Agreement in 2005 will impact on key garment producing countries and in particular the workers within these countries.
     
• an opportunity for members to hear and discuss research produced by an International project working on the MFA bringing together corporates, public sector, multistakeholder initiatives, trade unions and NGOs (of which ETI is a member).
   
• information and debate on the implications for companies and workers, such as
  • the major shift in location of garment production,
  • where industry and job losses will occur, and
  • what companies can do to protect the thousands of workers.
     

Speakers

Alan Roberts, Chair, ETI
Neil Kearney, General Secretary, ITGLWF
B. Gowthaman, Oxfam International, Sri Lanka
Maya Forstater, Accountability
 

Bookings:

Please note that this event is for ETI members, Non-member companies, Company Buyers; Government - Department for International Development and Department for Trade and Industry, Suppliers, Industry analysts, Embassies.

To book a place, contact Adil Rehman
E: adil@eti.org.uk
T: 020 7404 1463
BOOKING DEADLINE: 22 October 2004

FEE PAYABLE:
Companies FREE,
TUs FREE,
NGOs FREE