Garment industry assured of lower manufacturing cost

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) gave its assurance yesterday to the garments industry that the government would look at ways to help lower the production cost.

Militant labor groups led by Partido ng Manggagawa and Bukluran ng Maggagawang Pilipino held a rally in front of the DTI office to air their concern about the loss of jobs in the garments sector due to subcontracting.

The two groups protested the effects of globalization on workers’ rights and the epidemic of contractualization in the garments and textile industry.

Trade and Undersecretary Gregory Domingo met with representatives of the two labor groups and agreed to another meeting to thresh out their concerns.

The DTI, Domingo said, would also invite garment manufacturers to dialogue with the workers and explore ways wherein government can help lower the production cost.

"Because of increasing competition and tight deadlines, some garment manufacturers are forced to subcontract," Domingo said.

The DTI had earlier implemented a Garments Export Industry Transformation Package to help the local garments manufacturers upgrade their machinery and make them more efficient and competitive in preparation for the garments export quota phaseout by 2004.