Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Jerry Nadler have reintroduced legislation that would set a minimum-wage floor for garment workers, make major retailers more accountable for workplace violations and create grants for domestic apparel manufacturing.
The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change, or FABRIC, Act is a proposal, not a change already in effect. Its sponsors say it would protect more than 75,000 U.S. garment workers and respond to wage theft, unsafe conditions and a piece-rate pay system that can reward output over worker protections.
Pay, retailer liability and records
Under the proposal described by Gillibrand's office, garment workers would receive at least the minimum wage, with productivity incentives paid on top. The release does not specify an effective date, detailed wage formula or enforcement penalty for the revised system.
The bill would add liability measures involving major retailers for workplace violations. It would also require garment manufacturers and contractors operating in the United States to register with the Department of Labor, part of a broader recordkeeping and transparency approach outlined by its sponsors.
A domestic garment-manufacturing grant program would aim to encourage production in the United States. The announcement does not specify the proposed grant's total funding, eligibility rules or how applicants would be selected.
New York and national scope
Gillibrand's office estimates that New York's fashion industry employs about 130,000 people, including thousands in apparel manufacturing. That statewide industry figure is broader than the release's estimate of more than 75,000 garment workers the federal bill would protect nationally; the two numbers describe different groups.
Gillibrand said federal action is needed to curb wage theft and improve conditions while supporting U.S. manufacturing. Nadler, who represents a New York district, also called for stronger worker protections and domestic production. Their statements present the sponsors' case for the measure; the release does not include a response from retailers or opponents.
The bill has Senate cosponsors Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth and House cosponsors including Dan Goldman, according to the announcement. The AFL-CIO, UNITE HERE, Workers United and RWDSU have endorsed it.
The next step is congressional consideration of the reintroduced bill. The announcement did not identify a committee vote or enactment timetable.
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