US Congresswoman Carolyn B Maloney recently introduced the Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act of 2022. The bill addresses apparel manufacturing industry issues like the exploitation of essential workers, offshoring and an aging workforce. The Act will establish a nationwide garment industry registry to raise oversight and transparency.
The Act aims to implement measures that would advance workplace rights, protections and manufacturing incentives to solidify the United States as the leader in responsible apparel production, a press release from the Congresswoman’s office said.
The Act will put forth requirements to hold both fashion brands and retailers along with their manufacturing partners jointly accountable for workplace wage violations, set an hourly pay in the garment industry and eliminate piece rate pay in workplaces in which workers are not already paid a minimum wage or are covered by a union collective bargaining agreement.
