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• The fashion industry is vital for economic development: it is valued at some USD 2.4 billion globally and directly employs 75 million people throughout its value chain. It is the world's third-largest manufacturing sector after the automobile and technology industries. (Source: World Bank) 

• "In the apparel industry, the big brands and retailers, typically headquartered in the United States, Europe, and Japan, drive the market, determining what gets produced, where, and at what prices." (Source: ILRF Report)

• "The globalization of apparel production was enabled by new rules of trade, promoted by multi-national corporations, which allowed those corporations to operate in more and often far-flung geographic locations, mostly in the Global South." (Source: ILFR Report)  

• "Brands design products and market them, but most often outsource production to independent factories located in regions of the world where labor costs are lower and social and environmental regulations are lax." (Source: ILRF Report)

• The garment supply chain is complex stretching across several countries, often unregulated, making traceability difficult.

• Made in the USA does not always mean that garments were made ethically. The US is considered a medium risk country. 

• "The 'fast fashion' model has a deteriorating effect on working conditions. Low wages, forced labor, unhealthy and dangerous working conditions and child labor are rampant throughout the garment supply chain." (Source: Somo) 

• Paying garment workers a living wage is up to brands and factories to work together to achieve it. 

• The uncertainty of future work due to automation needs to be addressed by business. 

• ​The effects of COVID-19 have put garment workers in far more vulnerable positions as they are out of work​. Some multinational brands have refused to pay factories for canceled orders. 

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• "The FTC is a bipartisan federal agency with a unique dual mission to protect consumers and promote competition. The FTC protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace. We conduct investigations, sue companies and people that violate the law, develop rules to ensure a vibrant marketplace, and educate consumers and businesses about their rights and responsibilities. We collect reports on hundreds of issues from data security and deceptive advertising to identity theft and Do Not Call violations, and make them available to law enforcement agencies worldwide for follow-up." (Source: FTC)  They handle deceptive "green" claims. 

• Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1307) prohibits the importation of merchandise mined, produced or manufactured, wholly or in part, in any foreign country by forced or indentured labor – including forced child labor. Such merchandise is subject to exclusion and/or seizure, and may lead to criminal investigation of the importer(s). (Source: US Customs and Border protection) 

• The California Transparency in Supply Chain Act declares that retailers and manufacturers doing business in California with annual worldwide gross receipts exceeding US one hundred million disclose information regarding their efforts to eradicate human trafficking and slavery within their supply chains on their website or, if a company does not have a website, through written disclosures. Businesses are required to disclose their efforts in five areas but not held responsible under law if there are any violations. The five areas are: verification, audits, certification, internal accountability, and training. 

• S.4241 - Slave-Free Business Certification Act of 2020.                    A bill introduced to Senate on July 21, 2020 would require businesses with global revenues in above US five hundred million to audit their direct suppliers, secondary suppliers and on-site service providers.                                                                        For more go to:                                                                                https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s4241/BILLS-116s4241is.pdf 

• SB1399- The Garment Worker Protection Act                               This bill introduced by Senator Durazo would prohibit any employee engaged in the performance of garment manufacturing to be paid by the piece or unit, or by the piece rate, except as specified. The bill would impose a statutory penalty of $200 against a garment manufacturer or contractor, payable to the employee, for each pay period in which the employee is paid by the piece rate. Employees paid by the piece end up making an estimated $5.15/ hour. The California Bill did not pass but efforts will continue.                                                                                            For more go to:     https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB1399          

• The uncertainty of future work due to automation needs to be addressed by the government to avoid civil unrest and the benefit of business.