LOCAL GARMENT manufacturers have recently been reeling from the award of multi-million dollar uniform contracts to overseas firms by some of our largest businesses. Particularly galling to many is the fact that the Bank of Jamaica, who they feel should be encouraging local endeavour, also went overseas with its award of a uniform contract.
It is indeed an anomaly that in the heyday of free zone operations, Jamaican workers were deemed competent enough to make clothing for international brands like Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, Hunt Club and other big names in the apparel business. It is unlikely, therefore, that poor manufacturing standards is the reason for uniform contracts going overseas, as stated recently by Dr. Blossom O'Meally Nelson. The issue is not as simplistic as Dr. O'Meally-Nelson would have us believe.
First of all, local garment manufacturers have to overcome the mindset among many Jamaicans that anything 'foreign' is better. The flood of cheap, sub-standard garments that are being sold throughout the country attests to that notion.
What is not generally known is that the overseas companies do not necessarily own factories. They get the contracts, "farm" them out to countries like Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic, where the cost of production is lower than in Jamaica, and employ a small local operation to handle alterations. The competitive advantage of having manufacturing done in countries where there is no minimum wage must be significant.
There is no denying that there are problems locally under-capitalisation and high costs of production, and the issue of late delivery on contracts have dogged the sector over the years. The collective approach to handling large contracts being taken by the group of manufacturers led by Laurence Heffes is therefore to be lauded.
This is also a time for dialogue. This group should meet with the big players and discuss the issues that have led them overseas.
Apparel manufacturing was for many years the single largest employer of women in Jamaica. Many of these skilled workers are now peddling a plethora of imported goods garments among them on the streets of Kingston and every parish capital.
In expessing its concern at the statements of Dr. O'Meally-Nelson the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA) has cited its own major initiative to encourage all Jamaicans to support Jamaican industries. In supporting whatever dialogue and united action ensue on this matter we think the JMA initiative should be a key motivating factor.
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