blog:T-shirt manufacturer implements first-hire policy

Following a relocation announcement, t-shirt, sweatshirt and polo-shirt manufacturer Gildan Activewear has pledged to give priority to its existing workers in new recruitment drives.

Having closed a Honduras factory in 2004, the t-shirt manufacturer will give priority to its 1,800 former workers when taking on new staff, according to Just Style.

The Honduran Independent Monitoring Team found that after the initial stages of a first-hire scheme, which saw a 20 per cent uptake of former Gildan employees, there are a growing number of former employees from the El Progeso site being relocated.

The news comes as Gildan announces plans to downsize North American manufacturing capacity, in a move to increase production at low-cost sites in Honduras and the Dominican Republic.

Speaking to Reuters, Jessy Hayem, a Desjardins Securities analyst, said the move would “ramp up” production at Gildan’s Rio Nance III sock facility in Honduras.

He added that the restructuring drive was ahead of Desjardins’ expectations “and is positive”