Ja: Outsourcing in the garment industry

LOCAL GARMENT manufacturers have recently been reeling from the award of multi-million dollar uniform contracts to overseas firms by some of our largest businesses. Particularly galling to many is the fact that the Bank of Jamaica, who they feel should be encouraging local endeavour, also went overseas with its award of a uniform contract.

It is indeed an anomaly that in the heyday of free zone operations, Jamaican workers were deemed competent enough to make clothing for international brands like Ralph Lauren, Liz Claiborne, Hunt Club and other big names in the apparel business. It is unlikely, therefore, that poor manufacturing standards is the reason for uniform contracts going overseas, as stated recently by Dr. Blossom O'Meally Nelson. The issue is not as simplistic as Dr. O'Meally-Nelson would have us believe.

Is somebody getting a kickback?