VOA标准英语2010-American Apparel Companies Interested in

John Park, manager of the Astro Embroidery¹ company in Port au Prince, Haiti

Prior to the January earthquake that devastated² Haiti, textile manufacturing accounted for three-quarters of the country's export earnings³. The sector⁴ employed more than 25,000 people.  After the quake, estimates suggest the industry is operating at about 50 percent capacity.  If U.S. companies begin manufacturing in Haiti, experts say the industry there could support 100,000 jobs. 

Textile Company Running on HOPE

John Park is manager of the Astro Embroidery company in Port au Prince. The company is based in the Caribbean.

In 2008, the U.S. Congress passed a law, commonly known as Hope II, granting duty-free access for Haitian textiles. Astro Embroidery, which owns factories in Honduras, moved quickly to start operations in Haiti.

"First of all, we come here to Haiti because HOPE regulation passed in Congress, USA.  And we expected a lot of textile company come to Haiti," Park said. "And then we [are] coming here to prepare service for them."

Two years later, most of his machines are silent. Only four employees are still working. "If we have 100 percent productivity, there will be 70 to 80 employees can be here," Park said.

 

Is Haiti stable enough to take on such a business venture?

The American apparel manufacturers have not come.   He says they fear Haiti is not stable enough for business.

Stephen Lamar is executive vice⁵ president of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. He says U.S. apparel firms are interested in manufacturing in Haiti but are reluctant because current legislation, including The Caribbean Basin Initiative, is short term and the volume of goods allowed into the U.S. is too low.

"What you have right now is people are placing orders on the hope, no pun intended, on the hope that we are going to have the Caribbean Basin Trade Act extended," Lamar said. "Now, it has been extended a couple of times before, but that is no guarantee that it will be extended."

But hope is on the horizon. When former President Bill Clinton visited Port au Prince in March he promised to pressure Congress to extend the trade laws and raise the ceiling on duty-free imports. "So we pledged to do what we could to get the changes adopted by Congress that will enable you to make maximum use of this law.  And I think it could create a 100,000 jobs in Haiti in short order," he stated.

For John Park, the extensions will not come soon enough.  He says the company had to dip into savings⁶ to stay afloat. "We need help.  But so far we are okay. We can survive," he said. "But I am really concerned now. One more year if we don't have enough work, we could be out of business."

Some question whether textile jobs are the best option for Haitian workers.

Haiti's minimum wage is about $3 (US) a day.  Astro Embroidery pays its employees a salary and bonus equal to about $6 (US) a day. 

But garment worker Fifi Rico told us that is not a living wage. "Because what they get is enough for them to eat.  They don't have enough to pay for housing," he said.

The American Apparel And Footwear Association told us the industry has strong interest in helping⁷ to rebuild Haiti.  Lamar says work has begun on Capitol Hill to extend both trade acts.

 

1 embroidery   

n.绣花，刺绣；绣制品

参考例句：

• This exquisite embroidery won people's great admiration.这件精美的绣品，使人惊叹不已。
• This is Jane's first attempt at embroidery.这是简第一次试着绣花。

2 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

7 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。