The Americas Group
The Americas Group is a multi-stakeholder forum composed of international brands and manufacturers and labour rights organizations working together to promote and support socially responsible apparel and footwear industries and decent work in the Americas.
The Americas Group currently has two standing working committees:
- The Mexico Committee’s work is focused on promoting greater respect for freedom of association (FOA) and the right to bargain collectively, and identifying and finding solutions to common wage violations. For this work, the Committee draws on the knowledge and experience of Mexican labour experts and labour and human rights organizations.
- The Central America Committee is engaging with trade union and women’s organizations in El Salvador and Honduras to address priority issues of garment maquila workers. Since 2016, our collaborative efforts have focused on promoting affordable and quality childcare for working parents and addressing sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination at work, as well as other concerns raised in annual dialogue sessions, including freedom of association violations and factory closures.
The Americas Group’s work and finances are overseen by a Coordinating Committee, which includes: adidas, Gap Inc, Levi Strauss & Co, New Balance and the Maquila Solidarity Network (MSN), which also acts as the secretariat. The Americas Group is financed through annual contributions from participating brands. We have received special project funding for research and multi-stakeholder convenings on labour reform in Mexico and childcare in Central America.
Companies and organizations active in the Americas Group include: adidas, American Eagle Outfitters, Bella+Canvas, C&A, Carhartt, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Fanatics, Fruit of the Loom, Gap Inc., Gildan Activewear, Hanesbrands Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., L2 Brands, Mountain Equipment Co-op, New Balance, Next Level Apparel, Nike, Patagonia, PopSockets, PUMA, PVH Corporation, Tegra Global, Under Armour, VF Corporation, Fair Labor Association, and the Maquila Solidarity Network.
Americas Group Annual Reports