Condition in garment industry has improved – OSHA

With the extensive reforms carried out by garment manufacturers on the island on health and safety issues, Saipan may well become a model for all the garment factories in the world, according to a federal official.

Frank Strasheim, administrator for Region IX of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commended garment manufacturers for working cooperatively with OSHA in implementing changes and willingness to have their factories inspected.

“We think that garment factories have come a long way. What I can see is the prospect of the garment industry in Saipan not only doing much better on workers’ safety but become a worldwide model for the garment industries everywhere,” said Mr. Strasheim.

The Saipan Garment Manufacturers Association has forged a partnership with OSHA to ensure compliance with labor and safety laws. Eight companies have applied for partnership with OSHA which the federal agency is currently evaluating.

“To me, this symbolizes a real change in attitude. As usual, there is room for improvement because not all the companies, but certainly the more important ones have done a lot of work,” he added.

He noted the infrastructure changes made by some companies as well as huge improvement in living conditions of the workers.

OSHA stepped up enforcement three years ago when the U.S. Congress provide more funds for the federal agencies to carry out more inspection work in the Northern Marianas. Since the cooperative efforts with SGMA, OSHA has participated in four training sessions on the island, mostly arranged by the Business for Social Responsibility.

Mr. Strasheim noted that the $1 billion lawsuit filed against the garment firms and buyers have something to do with conditions in the past. He expressed optimism that the lawsuit will be resolved soon where the CNMI can be an example in the United States in terms of improving health and safety conditions of the garment workers .

“I can see that at the end of the tunnel, this could become a model and become a source of great pride for the buyers who are your primary customers here, for the factories themselves, the island and the United States,” he added.

OSHA is still hoping that more factories on the island would make a commitment to step up health and safety program by involving their workers in health and safety committees as well as inspections within the companies.

“We hope they can do it on their own, post the results get things fixed and train the workers in their own language. We are looking for full-time safety person at each garment factory and most importantly, a commitment by the chief executive officer,” Mr. Strasheim said.