Bangladesh Bangladesh's readymade garments industry has demanded that the government stop all foreign direct investment (FDI) as it is "unable to compete" with foreign manufacturers. Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) also pitched for tax concessions. (SME Times)

Brazil Foxconn, most famous as Apple's China-based manufacturer, has set out a stringent list of demands for Brazil to meet before it builds a $12 billion plant there. The government's response, through president Dilma Rousseff, has been to demand Foxconn employ mainly local labor, share technology and afford "basic respect" of Brazil's labor laws. (Fast Company)

China China’s battle against inflation may have caused collateral damage to the country's colossal manufacturing sector and, potentially, to the pace of global economic growth. The country’s manufacturing pace slows as workers’ wages are rising. (Wall Street Journal)

Central America Textile and apparel factories in the vast region that stretches from North America to South America believe they are in their best position now to grab apparel orders away from Asia as the region, especially China, is no longer the cheap and easy place it was for fast turnarounds and competitive pricing for clothing. (Apparel News)

Colombia According to a report by the non-profit communications agency PANDI, Colombia experienced a sharp rise in the volume of child workers between 2007 and 2009, with a growth of around 35%. In 2009 Colombia had at least 1,050,147 children in employment, compared to some 787,000 in 2007. The current law permits children to work up to 14 hours per week, although in the case of child workers this regulation is often flouted. Some 58% of child laborers work more than the allocated daily maximum for adult workers, while 11% work more than 48 hours a week. (Colombia Reports)

Pakistan Pakistani worker unions held rallies attended by hundreds of workers including men, women and children on International Labor Day, deploring that there are no comprehensive and uniform laws to protect workers’ rights. They also rapped the government for increase in prices, unemployment, increasing poverty and low wages. (DAWN)

Peru Peru has become a leading textile and clothing producing country. The purchase of national brands went up from $640,000 to more than $4.5 million as a result of an agreement signed with the Peruvian garment guild represented in the National Society of Industries (SNI). The notable increase goes hand in hand with good indicators of the textile apparel sector in the first months of this year, reinforcing a very successful growth strategy since 2002. (Living in Peru)

Philippines Labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) rejected the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines's (ECOP) offer for a salary adjustment of no more than P13.35 ($0.31 USD) per day. President Benigno Aquino III encouraged employers to grant productivity incentives and come up with profit incentive sharing plan for workers. (Sun Star)

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka’s apparel industry will tour the country in search of new workers and spruce up its image as the lucrative business it once was. The image campaign starts in the first week of May for over the next 9-12 months. The apparel sector is projected to grow by 10% this year while revenue is slated to be around US$3.6 billion compared to the previous year’s figure of US$3.2 – 3.3 billion. (The Sunday Times)

Thailand A new ban on alcohol trade and consumption at factories during working hours will soon be imposed across Thailand to promote a healthy workforce and reduce alcohol-related problems. (IBN Live)

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the government will consider a further increase in the daily minimum wage for factory workers within a month. Mr Abhisit also said he endorses a law which requires entrepreneurs to recruit disabled persons at a ratio of one disable worker to 100 able-bodied workers. (Bangkok Post)

Turkey The Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions Research Institute released the "Report on Working Hours". Turkish workers work longer hours and do more extra hours than workers in other countries. At the same time, their right to paid leave is extremely restricted in international comparison. (Bianet News)

U.S.A. US department store retailer Macy’s is to use recycled black clothes hangers instead of its current clear plastic ones as one of a number of steps outlined in its new sustainability plan. The company said it will be asking its apparel vendors to begin shipping merchandise to Macy’s on the recycled hangers in autumn 2011, with the transition expected to be complete in spring 2012. (Just-Style)

The latest figures from the Organic Trade Association (OTA) show that U.S. sales of linen and clothing made with organic fibers jumped by 16% last year, reaching a value of $605m. Sales of organic fruit and vegetables - which account for 39.7% of organic sales in the market - increased 11.8%, while organic dairy experienced a 9% rise in sales. (Just-Style)

Vietnam More foreign garment and textile investors are stitching up investment deals in Vietnam as production costs rise in China. The average salaries for a manufacturing sector worker in Vietnam were $70-$116 per month, while in China this figure was $192-$290. (Vietnam Net)