Clothing union blames imports for job losses

Press, 9 July 1983, Page 14

Clothing union blames imports for job losses

The loss of 8000 jobs in the apparel industry between 1976 and 1982 was a “shocking indictment” of the approach of the Industries Development Commission, the Canterbury Clothing Workers’ Union has said in submissions to the commission in Wellington. The union said it was “deeply disappointed” with the commission’s draft report on the apparel industry. “The whole tenor of the report is quite frightening in its determination to allow an ever-increasing flow of imports to enter New Zealand and do away with import controls in the process. “The commission seems to be under the misguided impression that increasing imports will make the apparel industry more competitive, in spite of the fact

i that the industry is composed of hundreds of comi panies, large and small, i which are already fiercely > competitive,” said the union. , The over-all effect of the ; draft report, if put into i effect would be not only to negate any future growth but effectively “kill off” the i apparel industry, said the i union. The commission’s draft report recommended that imports of apparel be coni tinned at 10 per cent of the > market; that apparel cease to be on the deferred list under C.E.R. and be brought within C.E.R. from January 1984; and that in the long term, tariffs replace import controls as a form of protection of the New Zealand apparel industry. These recommendations were a recipe for the demise of an industry which had adequately supplied the

needs of New Zealand for many years, had exported a growing volume of clothing, and had provided jobs for thousands of workers, particularly females, said the union. From the figures published in the draft report it was clear that employment in the textile and apparel industry had declined 23.5 per cent between 1976 and 1982, which was reflected in the decline in the union’s membership. The commission must recognise that the industry was now in such a precarious position that some sections of it were fighting for their very existence. If steps were not taken to reduce considerably the volume of imports there would be little industry left for the Commission to encourage, the union said.