Terming the recently-signed India-US Trade Agreement ‘a major catalyst’ enhancing bilateral textile trade, the Indian textile industry expressed hope that this will be ‘a major economic game changer’ for the sector by generating additional employment and encouraging investments by US entities.

“For textiles exports, it opens up a $118 billion US global imports market of textiles, apparels and made-ups. With the US being India’s largest export destination of around $10.5 billion [in] exports, comprising around 70 per cent apparel and 15 per cent made ups, this is a major opportunity,” the ministry said in a statement.

Terming the India-US Trade Agreement ‘a major catalyst’ enhancing bilateral textile trade, the Indian textile industry expressed hope that this will be ‘a major economic game changer’ for the sector by generating additional employment and encouraging investments by US entities.
The agreement would also enable the industry to be cost competitive and diversify risks by sourcing intermediates from the US.

“The 18 per cent reciprocal tariffs on all the textiles products including apparel and made-ups will not  only remove the disadvantage that Indian exporters had, but would place them in a better position than most competitors like Bangladesh (20 per cent), China (30 per cent), Pakistan (19 per cent) and Vietnam (20 per cent) who have higher reciprocal tariffs.  This would alter the market dynamics as large buyers   would surely relook at their sourcing in the light of this agreement,” it noted.

The agreement would also enable the textile industry to be cost competitive and diversify risks by sourcing intermediates from the United States, and that would facilitate manufacturing of value-added textiles in the country and diversify production and exports, it added.

Fibre2Fashion (DS)

The United Kingdom’s Statutory Recognition Scheme (SRC) will be reshaped from April 6 under the new Employment Rights Act, introducing several key changes.

The SRC, primarily governed by the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (as amended), allows independent trade unions to secure legal recognition for collective bargaining on pay, hours, and holidays when employers refuse voluntary agreement.

The UK Statutory Recognition Scheme will be reshaped from April 6 under the new Employment Rights Act, introducing several key changes.
The majority of the Trade Union Act 2016 will be repealed from February 18.
This change simplifies requirements on trade unions, including in relation to procedures around industrial action.
Employees will be protected from unfair dismissal for taking part in strikes.

Unions will no longer need to demonstrate that most workers in a proposed bargaining unit are likely to support recognition, removing the requirement for petitions or similar evidence.

When recognition is decided by ballot, unions will only need a simple majority of votes cast, with the former 40-per cent support requirement removed.

The majority of the Trade Union Act 2016 will be repealed from February 18.

The change simplifies requirements on trade unions, including in relation to procedures around industrial action.

Key changes include a 10-day notice period to inform employers of their intention to take industrial action (reduced from 14 days); a 12-month mandate (increased from 6 months) for ballots approving industrial action; no requirement for unions to reimburse employers for check-off administration in the public sector; and no need for unions to appoint a picket supervisor to monitor picket lines, according to a UK government release.

Employees will be protected from unfair dismissal for taking part in industrial action, whatever the length of the strike action (due to removal of the 12-week cap).

Unions will be required to include less information than previously in industrial action notices and industrial action ballot notices.

Public sector employers will no longer be required to publish facility time.

Fibre2Fashion (DS)