‘No Sweat’ Accord for Manufacturers

* Medea Benjamin’s “No Sweat for Companies to Agree” (Column Left, April 17) raises valid concerns about some details of the recently announced agreement on sweatshop practices. But it misses the point that this is an interim, not final, agreement that sets a solid framework for protecting the human rights of garment workers worldwide.

Benjamin is right to underscore the severity of the problem. But she fails to acknowledge that throughout the Apparel Industry Partnership, on which we serve, representatives of unions, human rights, religious and consumer groups have reached an agreement with apparel industry leaders on the need for independent monitoring. These companies have committed, for the first time, to open up their factories and those of their contractors to inspections by qualified independent external monitors. They also have agreed to join with labor, human rights, religious and consumer groups to form an association to which external monitors would be accountable.

The key to the effectiveness of the interim proposal will be the creation of this association, representing our diverse interests, which will oversee the monitoring process and compliance with the proposed code of conduct. We have set a six-month deadline. We welcome and need close public scrutiny. But critics should judge us on the final product.

MICHAEL POSNER, Exec. Dir.

Lawyers Committee for

Human Rights, New York City