Bangladesh Bangladesh's prison authorities on Wednesday (May 11) announced plans to set up garment factories in the country's overcrowded jails in a bid to help convicts acquire skills and make money. The project, which has not yet been approved by the government, aims to set up factories first in major prisons before expanding to all Bangladesh's 68 jails. (AsiaOne)

Brazil Brazil and Argentina are among almost 100 countries expected to lose tariff breaks for their textile and clothing exports to the European Union (EU), under a planned reform of the EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) system.  The EU on Tuesday (May 10) announced that it wanted to focus import duty concessions on poorer countries, and that those regarded by the World Bank as high or upper middle income states would no longer qualify from January 2014. (Just-Style)

Cambodia At least 15 people were injured when armed police broke up a protest in Cambodia on Sunday (May 8) by at least 2,000 mostly female garment workers demanding unpaid bonuses after their plant was closed by a fire. (Reuters)

China According to a study by the Boston Consulting Group, within four years production in the United States will cost about the same as in China, even if Chinese labor productivity grows in the meantime. (Washington Post)

Workers who make Apple iPads and iPhones at manufacturer Foxconn/Hon Hai Precision Industries Corp. in its China plants are still making around $100 a month, despite promised wage increases, because pay gains have been offset by the company's cancellation of dormitory and cafeteria allowances, according to a report by Hong Kong labor monitoring group, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior (SACOM).  (Philly.com)

Colombia The U.S. Colombia free trade agreement was supported by two senators but opposed by a labor unionist at the United States Senate Committee on Finance Wednesday (May 11). AFL-CIO, the largest labor union federation in the U.S., raised serious concerns regarding labor rights in the Latin American country. (Colombia Reports)

European Union Garments sold in the European Union (EU) will need to be labeled with details of all animal inputs such as fur, leather or feather after new textile labeling rules were approved by the European Parliament on Wednesday (May 11). (Just-Style)

Guatemala In order to help businesses understand the importance of social and environmental compliance and win the international market, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) and Intertek will jointly host a seminar in Guatemala on May 24, 2011. (WRAP)

Hong Kong The Hong Kong government has been told to hammer out a timetable for new air quality rules amid increasingly vocal criticism of pollution in the global financial hub. The city’s Environmental Protection Department was quoted by the Sunday Morning Post as saying the ruling was “welcome” and it was “working closely with the concerned bureaux and departments and other stakeholders with a view to drawing up a practicable timetable.” (Eco-Business)

India India Monday announced the setting up of a high-level expert group to assess the impact of economic growth on environment. The Environment Minister said the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) will focus on high growth inclusive of low carbon emission without compromising the required 8 to 9 percent growth rate. (News One)

Indonesia Disagreements between managers at a Nike factory in Indonesia and a union leader prompted Nike corporate representatives to visit the facility unannounced and help forge a truce. Nike spokeswoman Erin Dobson said that the management had applied "improper pressure" on the union leader after about 200 workers at the 8,700-employee plant voted to unionize. The outcome illustrates the difference between how worker-management disputes are handled now. (Oregon Live)

Italy The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) reached the agreement with the Uzbek Textile Association, an agreement which has been approved by the Italian Trade Association. The agreement will assist Uzbek textile sector in developing its industry. Italy shipped $3.4 million in textile machinery to Uzbekistan in 2010. (Yarns and Fibers Exchange)

Pakistan The WTO’s Council for Trade in Goods (CTG) is expected to meet on May 26 to decide on the approval of European Union's proposal for zero duty on the import of 64 textile items from Pakistan. Italy, Spain and Portugal as well as textile lobby Euratex and the European textile and apparel industry have opposed the EU's trade-related concessions for Pakistan. (Fibre2Fashion)

Peru According to the Latin Business Index, low inflation and strong economic growth put Peru in second place among other Latin America countries. The Latin Business Index measures the business environments in 18 countries in Latin America by five major factors and 32 subcategories, including the macroeconomic environment, corporate and political situation of each country in terms of globalization and competitiveness, and the level of infrastructure. (Living in Peru)

Philippines At least 20 percent of the country’s workers are receiving less than the minimum wage set by government and are expected not to benefit from any new round of wage adjustments to be imposed by government. (Manila Bulletin)

Sri Lanka The two week long strike by over 1,500 Sri Lankan apparel workers in Jordan demanding higher wages, is close to an amicable settlement as the majority of the protesting employees have expressed their willingness to resume work. The officials were negotiating with Jordanian authorities to bring back the 15 workers who have been jailed. (Daily News)

Turkey The Turkish Council of Ministers' decision to implement provisional safeguard duties on imports of certain woven fabrics, apparel and apparel accessories imports will be effective on July 21. The safeguard duty, aimed at protecting Turkish textile manufacturers, will particularly affect foreign suppliers in Pakistan, Indonesia, China and Vietnam, while Bangladesh and China. (Asia Times)

U.S.A. Environmental and sustainability consultancy WSP Environment & Energy has appointed former Nike sustainability director Phil Berry as vice president in the Sustainability Strategy. His role will focus on the practice of the company's North American operation. (Just-Style)

Vietnam With an aim to considerably boost its capacity in Vietnam, Mascot International A/S, Denmark’s largest producer of formal wear has established a new apparel stitching unit and also introduced new technology in Vietnam. (Fibre2Fashion)