2021年9月3日
行業報導 - 2021年9月3日
1、盡快推「來港易」 先廣東再上海
(星島日報報道)社會疫情穩定，外界期待可早日通關。行政長官林鄭月娥前日接受內地媒體訪問，透露目前暫停的「回港易」稍後會恢復，政府也會盡快推出非港人免檢入境的「來港易」，先導計畫會先在廣東實施，其後可延至上海。她強調，政府一方面會繼續嚴密防控疫情，加快為市民接種疫苗，同時也會與內地及澳門方面繼續保持聯繫，積極研究在疫情受控並且不增加各自公共衛生風險的情況下，逐步有序恢復居民的正常跨境往來。
新冠肺炎疫情平穩，本港新增一宗輸入個案，為三十二歲從希臘抵港的女患者，其沒有病徵，早前在港接種兩劑復必泰疫苗。特首林鄭月娥近日接受內地《解放日報．上觀新聞》訪問，稱隨著香港國安法的實施，香港由亂轉治，社會治安基本上已經恢復。除了受疫情影響外，社會大致恢復正常，市民生活重回正軌。
她指在疫情防控方面，在過去近三個月時間中，香港社會基本沒有社區感染，社區內已基本「清零」，社交距離措施已有序放寬，各行各業恢復營運，多項大型活動順利舉行，市民生活大致如常，經濟復甦勢頭良好。面對全球反覆的疫情，特區政府按抵港人士來源地來作風險評估，以非常嚴謹的登機、檢疫及檢測措施，防止個案輸入社區。
就通關問題，她表示港府一直與內地及澳門就聯防聯控措施保持緊密溝通和聯繫，為使跨境人員往來能早日有序恢復正常，港府一方面會繼續嚴密防控疫情，加快為市民接種疫苗，同時也會與內地及澳門方面繼續保持聯繫，積極研究在疫情受控並且不增加各自公共衛生風險的情況下，逐步有序恢復居民的正常跨境往來。「上海朋友到港不用等兩地通關，『回港易』已讓在滬港人免檢疫回港（目前暫停，但稍後恢復），政府會盡快推出非港人的『來港易』，先導計畫在廣東，其後可延至上海。」
林鄭指，為恢復內地民眾對香港的信心，特區政府會繼續通過五個駐內地辦事處，協助內地更全面了解香港的最新情況，重建香港安全、守法、文明、多元和包容的良好形象，為兩地在疫情過後逐步重啟經濟活動和恢復人員往來作好準備。
香港中小型企業總商會永遠榮譽會長巢國明表示，商界一直期盼通關，而政府先安排非港人的來港易「試吓先」，都屬於突破，安排會展現出對內地疫情感到有信心，他希望港人可盡快免檢入境內地。
對於「來港易」或有好消息，他預計廣東省需求最大，因雙方一直交流頻繁，而廣東省有不少人設辦公室和設廠，當中有廠家，也涉創科業務，其次的上海都有人會來港，他指兩地需求層次不同，上海會以金融及專業服務為多。中大經濟學系副教授莊太量指出，營商環境是企業的主要考慮，外資眼見英國等歐洲國家通關後，確診數字雖有增長，但可刺激經濟，所以會期盼本港盡早開放。
資料來源：星島日報 (2021年9月2日)
2、應對沿海製造業招工難 發改委：加強培訓人才
【本報訊】國家發改委副秘書長高杲昨日（30日）表示，目前「用工難」、「招工難」問題比較突出，特別是在東部沿海地區，整體而言，製造業用工確實比較不足。他表示，要促進製造業高質量就業、強化製造業人才的培養培訓，進一步加強製造業企業的用工服務。
高杲昨日在國務院新聞辦舉行的「『十四五』就業促進規劃」記者會指，一方面，現在疫情還沒有完全獲得控制，特別是全球範圍內疫情還在蔓延，客觀上影響了一些地區製造業的招工和穩定用工。內地率先有效地管控疫情，經濟恢復程度相對較快，特別是東部沿海地區面向出口的一些領域，定單需求比較飽滿，因此用工需求也在持續增長，短期內有用工短缺的情況，特別是用工量大的企業，出現較大的用工缺口。
他還指出，製造業領域的一些從業人員老齡化趨勢有所加快，尤其是產業轉型升級和自動化、智能化設備的廣泛應用，使得高齡員工愈來愈難適應新的職位。而許多年輕人可能不太願意到製造業領域就業，也加劇了製造業用工的緊張。
推降本減負 促高質量就業
另一方面，主要是持續性的缺熟練工、技術工，特別是技術技能人才，比如，芯片半導體產業、新能源產業，這些領域用工需求旺盛，但它對技能型人才的需求比較大。然而，短期內，在技能型人才培養上跟不上情勢，因此出現結構性缺口。
高杲強調，首先，要促進製造業高質量就業，包括實施製造業「降本減負」行動。針對製造業結構性就業問題，要強化製造業人才的培養培訓。
資料來源：香港經濟日報 (2021年8月31日)
3、最高法院發布案例 明確「996」工時違法
【本報訊】內地針對大型公司的超時加班文化發出警告，最高人民法院與人力資源和社會保障部周四（26日）聯合發布了超時加班典型案例，明確「996」（朝九晚九，每周六天）的工作制度嚴重違法。
員工被要求簽協議 棄加班費
最高人民法院和人社部發表一篇關於違反勞動法規和不合理加班的長文，列舉了10個包括但不限於科技行業的法庭案例，其中勞工被迫加班，或受到傷害。
在一個案例中，某科技公司要求員工簽署協議，放棄加班費，法院裁定這是違法。
在另一個案例中，一名傳媒工作人員在清晨5點30分，暈倒在辦公室洗手間後當日死亡，死亡原因為心肌梗死。法院裁定死亡與工作有關，並要求該公司向受害者家屬支付約40萬元人民幣。
刊登在人社部網站上的新聞稿稱，近期，一些行業、企業超時加班問題受到社會廣泛關注。
勞動者依法享有相應的勞動報酬和休息休假權益，遵守國家工時制度是用人單位的法定義務。超時加班極易引發勞動爭議，影響勞動關係和諧與社會穩定。
內地網企反「996」成趨勢
另外，全國政協外事委員會主任、中國財政部原部長樓繼偉26日對外談及企業社會責任時說，不能推崇「996」，否則會減少就業，對社會不利。
最近幾個月，中國互聯網公司反「996」已成大勢，騰訊、快手、字節跳動等幾家大公司和其他中小公司都在進行調整。
資料來源：香港經濟日報 (2021年8月28日)
4、供應減兼船運遲 美零售商憂缺貨
美國時裝品牌Abercrombie & Fitch（A&F）及「一元店」連鎖集團Dollar Tree等零售商均表示，在疫情影響下，供應鏈和船運都出現延誤問題。
A&F高層周四公布業績時透露，越南工廠停工避疫的影響起碼持續至9月初，令供貨平均押後一至三周，並要利用空運來避開港口卸貨擠塞的問題，集團正設法避免年底購物旺季的供貨受影響，這反映美國成衣零售商所面臨的貨源供應和物流壓力。
另外，專門銷售低價雜貨的Dollar Tree同日亦表示，儘管全球對各種消費品的需求回升，但海運成本上漲，加上轉運時間平均滯後約30日之久，正侵蝕該集團主打薄利多銷的毛利率，公司行政總裁維特斯基（Mike Witynski）說，公司每1億美元銷售所進口的貨櫃較其他大型零售商多，結合其一美元的低價策略，受運費上漲打擊極大。
資料來源：信報財經 (2021年8月28日)
5、政府延長企業多項減免涉34億
行政長官林鄭月娥表示，為協助中小企重整業務，行政會議上周通過延長多項豁免或寬減費用的措施，最長會延續至明年12月底，估計政府少收約34億元；豁免和寬減措施惠及多個行業，特別是受嚴重影響的行業，包括航空、海事、物流、漁農、零售、飲食、建造、旅遊、娛樂業等。
寬免措施包括非住宅用戶水費及排污費減免75%延長4個月；豁免商用車輛牌照及驗車費用1年；寬減政府物業合資格租戶75%租金或費用的措施延長半年等。此外，容許以短期租約租用政府土地的租戶，以現有條款續租至明年3月，免除重新招標。
特惠貸款延至明年中
另一方面，中小企融資百分百擔保貸款計劃的特惠貸款會延長至明年6月底，政府額外承擔350億元，總承擔額增至2180億元。截至今年7月底，百分百擔保貸款計劃下，批出的申請貸款接近657億元，惠及超過2.5萬間企業和逾30萬相關員工，繼續延長相信有效紓緩中小企的資金壓力。
對於多項即將屆滿的中小企優惠計劃延長，自由黨表示歡迎，認為此舉迎合市民需求，急商界所急，自由黨主席兼飲食界議員張宇人稱措施幫到市民和中小微企面對目前困境，亦歡迎政府暫緩政府物業公開招標的做法，籲私人業主仿效，讓商戶有喘息機會。
政府公布本財政年度首四個月（4月至7月）財務狀況，期內整體開支為2044億元，收入為1472億元，因此有572億元赤字。
資料來源：信報財經 (2021年9月1日)
6、越南製造業PMI 40.2 年半低 疫情肆虐 泰菲大馬印尼同收縮
Delta變種病毒肆虐東南亞，封城抗疫措施迫使廠房關閉或減慢生產，令區內製造業活動大受打擊，其中近年成為全球跨國品牌主要生產基地的越南，8月份製造業採購經理指數（PMI）由7月的45.1，急降至40.2，創去年4月以來低位，並連續3個月低於50的盛衰分界線。有分析認為，當地供應鏈斷裂勢波及美國聖誕節消費旺季的供貨。
其他東南亞地區製造業亦出現收縮情況，泰國製造業PMI由7月的48.7降至48.3，8個月來第七度錄得萎縮，菲律賓亦由50.4，跌至46.4的5月以來低位，馬來西亞PMI則由40.1升至43.4，印尼從40.1升至43.7，惟均遠低於50的擴張水平。
東南亞國家的疫苗接種率偏低，包括越南和泰國的確診個案和死亡數字均處於紀錄高位，據彭博最新抗疫韌度排名榜所追蹤的53個國家中，包尾的5個國家都在東南亞，其中越南排名50，近期疫情蔓延令當地廠商之前所面對運費飆升和工人短缺問題進一步惡化。
恐波及美聖誕旺季供貨
位於越南的美國總商會執行董事西特科夫（Adam Sitkoff）表示，美國兒童在聖誕節時，父母可能在聖誕樹下留下便條向他們說對不起，因為禮物要半年後才收到。
美國副總統賀錦麗（Kamala Harris）上周訪問越南，承諾向越南額外捐出100萬劑疫苗，至600萬劑，惟對人口逾一億的越南來說只是杯水車薪，當地全面接種的人口比率不足3%。
越南政府正優先向當地三星電子、英特爾及河內製衣廠的工人施打疫苗。CETA Consulting行政總裁本迪克（Csaba Bundik）認為，美國大企業應向藥廠輝瑞（Pfizer）和華府作出呼籲，加快向越南提供更多疫苗，因為這對美國維持生產十分重要。
此外，據投行Natixis估計，上述東南亞五國佔全球總出口約6%，並向主要國家輸出關鍵組件，包括美國一半的晶片進口。當中，馬來西亞近年成為晶片測試和封裝的重要中心，供應受阻將影響智能手機、汽車引擎及醫療設備的生產。
台日PMI放緩仍處擴張
美國半導體業協會（SIA）指出，全球約有7%半導體的供應過程需通過馬來西亞，而美國直接進口的半導體中，大馬多過任何其他國家，而豐田、福特、通用（GM）及日產最近宣布減產，皆歸咎於來自大馬廠房的晶片供應不足。相比東南亞，東北亞地區的製造業活動即使出現放緩，但PMI仍高於50，處於擴張狀態；當中，台灣及日本製造業8月份PMI，由7月分別59.7及53，降至58.5及52.7。
南韓8月份PMI由53跌至51.2，跌幅為16個月最大，而且創去年10月以來新低，不過視為全球貿易重要指標的南韓出口，8月份按年急升34.9%，貨值達532億美元，創該月新高，15類主要出口包括半導體、石化產品及汽車均錄得雙位數百分比增幅。
KB Securities分析員Oh Jae-young指出，供應鏈憂慮有助於南韓8月份貿易數字，因為企業提早進行採購，但預期出口未來數個月將會放緩。
資料來源：信報財經 (2021年9月2日)
7、Organizations Urge Covid-19 Protections for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Workers
As the deadly Delta wave continues to devastate parts of South Asia, more than 50 trade unions and labor-rights organizations are urging multinational brands, factory owners and lawmakers to take “immediate action” to protect the lives and livelihoods of garment workers in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
In an open letter published Monday, organizations such as StandUp Movement Lanka, the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity and the Clean Clothes Campaign criticized the governments of both countries for exempting garment workers from lockdown measures for “economic reasons.” By classifying them as essential, the groups said, undervaccinated workers are being made to toil in crowded factories, under the threat of contagion, in order to complete orders for brands headquartered in countries with high vaccination rates.
Longstanding calls from campaigners for governments, factory management and brands to provide workers with adequate occupational safety and health protections or social programs that would allow them to stay home have also gone unheeded, the organizations said.
“The failure to prioritize worker health and safety forces workers to choose between going into a factory without access to necessary PPE, with inadequate social distancing, and with minimal testing and vaccination or to face financial ruin without income or social benefits,” they wrote. “It is untenable that Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi workers must choose between death and destitution.”
To curb the spread of the virus, the letter implores decision makers to include the garment industry in lockdowns, expand on-site vaccination and testing of workers, and ensure the implementation of International Labour Organization Occupational Safety and Health protection standards such as the provision of personal protective equipment, physical distancing and the right of removal from danger. It further asks that workers who must skip work due to new Covid-19 restrictions continue to receive their full salaries. Workers who voluntarily refuse unsafe work, too, must not be excluded from unemployment, severance or other economic rights and benefits.
Brands, in particular, must extend lead times on orders during lockdowns to allow for reductions in workforce or temporary factory closures. Together with their suppliers, they must ensure that the people who make their clothes are able to do so safely and those who are prevented from coming to work are still paid in full, according to the letter.
“While this letter is focused on Bangladesh and Sri Lanka given the current immediate crisis, apparel brands need to do their due diligence by monitoring the safety and payment of workers during the pandemic in every country they source from, to ensure that workers do not have to risk their lives to complete brands’ orders,” the letter said.
“These steps are necessary actions that must be taken by international brands, national governments, and local factory managers to protect the lives and livelihoods of the workers whose labor they profit from,” it added.
Bangladesh, which has seen its number of Covid-19 cases double over the past month, has recorded 1.49 million infections and more than 26,000 deaths to date, though they appear to be on a downward trend. It exited its most recent lockdown on Aug. 11. Sri Lanka has been less fortunate, logging 4,600 new infections and 214 deaths from the contagion—its highest single-day death toll of the pandemic so far—on Friday, bringing its total to 426,000 cases and more than 8,770 deaths. The renewed surge has prompted the government to extend its lockdown by another week to Sept. 6.
Last week, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), Sri Lanka’s leading industry body, moved to reassure the nation’s 350,000 garment workers by issuing a five-point framework that places worker safety as its top priority. As of August, JAAF said, 90 percent of the workforce has received their first dose of the vaccine, and up to 50 percent have received their second. The aim is to vaccinate all garment workers by the end of September, and then their families, the organization added.
Other points in the scheme include enhancing backward integration, collaborating with authorities to retain and improve export market access through bilateral trade agreements, positioning Sri Lanka’s apparel industry “globally for the future” and improving the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector.
With the pandemic taking an extended bite out of Sri Lanka’s biggest exporter, which accounts for roughly 7 percent of the country‘s $84 billion economy, all hands must be on deck, said JAAF secretary-general Tuli Cooray said.
“At this crucial juncture, the entire industry must collaborate if we are to effectively address challenges stemming from the pandemic and create conducive conditions for long-term growth of the sector,” Cooray added. “This five-point plan is a framework which all industry stakeholders can use to collaborate in achieving our shared vision for Sri Lanka.”
Source: sourcingjournal.com (30 Aug 2021)
8、Esquel Group Accuses US Customs of Targeting Vietnam Shipments
A Hong Kong-based supplier for brands such as Nike, Patagonia and Tommy Hilfiger is suing the U.S. government. Again. And customs seizures of its shipments from Vietnam are likely to blame.
On Friday, Esquel Group filed a motion to reset a hearing date with a federal court for the District of Columbia, resuming its lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce for a Trump administration decision to include one of its subsidiaries on the so-called Entity List, which basically prevents it from doing business with American suppliers. After filing a lawsuit earlier this summer, it appeared that the Bureau of Industry and Security’s End-User Review Committee would be absolving Changji Esquel Textile Co. Ltd. (CJE) of previous forced-labor allegations, “subject to certain conditions.” Now, an impasse threatens to render all previous discussions moot.
“Despite good-faith efforts since early August, Esquel Group and the U.S. Department of Commerce have not been able to come to a resolution as the U.S. government is unable to provide any concrete timeline by which it could finally remove CJE from the Entity List,” Esquel wrote in a statement.
The world’s largest woven-shirt maker, which churns out roughly 100 million shirts annually, said that it has meanwhile suffered “substantial, ongoing and irreparable harms” that have “continued and even worsened” over the past month. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has detained and begun to exclude from entry a “large number” of shipments from Esquel factories outside China, including Vietnam, jeopardizing the manufacturer’s contractual obligations and causing “permanent economic and reputational damages.” Because this “heightens the need for emergency relief,” it added. “Esquel is left with no choice but to resume its lawsuit.”
CBP’s detention of Esquel shipments from Vietnam started happening in early August, chairman and CEO Marjorie Yang said in a supplemental declaration to the filing. CBP had told one Esquel customer that the detained shipments, worth $1.6 million, were subject to a Withhold Release Order against cotton products from Xinjiang, even though, according to Yang, the goods contained no cotton fibers or yarn from China.
She said she believes Esquel is being targeted. “I maintain communications with other textile and garment manufacturers, including those who ship goods from Vietnam,” Yang said. “To my knowledge, no other manufacturer is facing CBP detentions at the same frequency as Esquel. Under these circumstances, I believe that CBP has added most if not all Esquel factories to its targeting criteria, which essentially results in [the] automatic detention of a large amount of Esquel shipments to U.S. importers. I further believe that CBP has done so based on CJE’s status on the Entity List.”
One major U.S. brand, a “significant customer” of Esquel’s whose shipment from Vietnam was detained, has frozen all production and shipments from Esquel immediately due to the “uncertainty regarding future shipments,” with affected orders amounting to over $2.5 million, Yang said. If these detainments continue, another client, an established U.S. brand with more than $10 million worth of products for the upcoming season, could drop Esquel in favor of its competitors, she added.
“I expect that, in addition to the shipments detained by CBP in August 2021, the $6 million worth of goods currently en route from Esquel’s factories in Vietnam and Sri Lanka to the United States are at high risk of being detained,” she said. “Given my customers’ inability to accept orders shipped from any Esquel facility in the world, I am concerned that our remaining customers will either pause their orders from Esquel or simply cease doing business with us.”
“I fear that as long as CJE remains on the Entity List CBP will continue to detain shipments from Esquel’s factories, and that Esquel will permanently lose all U.S. business and U.S. customers,” Yang added.
The Trump administration had accused CJE and others last year of complicity in human-rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in China’s northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, which supplies 85 percent of the country’s cotton. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal reported that Esquel had established three spinning mills in Xinjiang, and that the company had employed at least 34 Uyghur workers offered by local officials. Responding to the outlet, then-CEO John Cheh said the company was “in no way forced to employ anyone.”
Following its blacklisting by the Department of Commerce, Esquel said it was “deeply offended” by the decision. “We absolutely have not, do not, and will never use forced labor anywhere in our company. There is no evidence to support the allegations against us on the use of forced labor in CJE,” it said.
Esquel made its initial filing against the department on July 6, pointing to a “lack of any factual or legal basis” for CJE’s listing and seeking access to the administrative record the Commerce Department relied on to make its “erroneous listing.” On July 31, the End-User Review Committee moved to discharge CJE from the Entity List, and on Aug. 3, a joint motion was filed to extend the government’s deadline to respond by 30 days.
“As of August 26, 2021, the U.S. government has maintained that no concrete timeline can be provided for the necessary steps needed before CJE will be removed from the Entity List and have acknowledged that several variables could delay [the] fulfillment of the conditions,” Esquel said in its statement. “We continue to feel strongly that the irrefutable facts and the law are on our side in this case and look to seek swift judicial action.”
Both CBP and the Department of Commerce said they do not comment on ongoing litigation.
Source: sourcingjournal.com (1 Sep 2021)
9、Gap reports strong Q2, raises full year earnings outlook
Gap reported second quarter diluted earnings per share of 67 cents, while adjusted earnings per share were 70 cents. The company raised its full year reported diluted earnings per share guidance to be in the range of 1.90 dollars to 2.05 dollars and 2.10 dollars to 2.25 dollars on an adjusted basis.
The company’s net sales of 4.2 billion dollars were up 5 percent compared to 2019.
“Our talented teams delivered our highest second quarter net sales in over a decade. Our strategy is driving growth as evidenced by continued strength at Old Navy and Athleta, Gap Brand’s second consecutive quarter of positive 2-year comparable sales in North America, and momentum gaining at Banana Republic,” said Sonia Syngal, CEO, Gap Inc.
Gap comparable sales increase 3 percent
The company said, strategic permanent store closures and the recent divestitures of the Janie & Jack and Intermix businesses reduced net sales by approximately 8 percent versus 2019. In addition, the company estimates that Covid-related closures in markets outside of the U.S. resulted in approximately 2 percent of sales decline versus 2019.
Comparable sales were up 3 percent year-over-year, and up 12 percent versus 2019. By brand Old Navy Global net sales were up 21 percent versus 2019, , while comparable sales were flat to last year and up 18 percent versus 2019.
Gap Global net sales declined 10 percent versus 2019, with permanent store closures resulting in an estimated 14 percent sales decline, and international Covid-closures driving a 1 percent decline on a 2-year basis. Global comparable sales declined 5 percent and increased 3 percent versus 2019. In North America, comparable sales growth of 12 percent on a 2-year basis was led by strength in key categories, including sleep, active and fleece.
Net sales at Banana Republic Global declined 15 percent versus 2019, with permanent store closures resulting in an estimated 10 percent sales decline, and international Covid-closures driving an estimated 1 percent decline on a 2-year basis. Comparable sales were up 41 percent and down 5 percent versus 2019.
Athleta net sales were up 35 percent versus 2019. Comparable sales grew 13 percent year-over-year and 27 percent versus 2019.
Gap Inc. second quarter online sales grew 65 percent versus the second quarter of 2019 and represented 33 percent of the total business. Store sales declined 11 percent versus the second quarter of 2019.
In the second quarter, the company paid a dividend of 12 cents per share.
Gap raises full year outlook
The company raised its reported full-year diluted earnings per share guidance to be in the range of 1.90 dollars to 2.05 dollars. On an adjusted basis, earnings are expected to be in the range of 2.10 dollars to 2.25 dollars.
The company now expects net sales growth for fiscal year 2021 to be about 30 percent versus 2020. This outlook reflects lost revenue related to the company’s decision to change its European operating model, as well as the completed divestitures of its Janie & Jack and Intermix businesses.
Reported operating margin is expected to be approximately 7 percent and adjusted operating margin guidance has been increased to about 7.5 percent.
The company continues to expect to open about 30-40 Old Navy and 20-30 Athleta stores in 2021, as well as close approximately 75 Gap and Banana Republic stores in North America.
Source: fashionunited.uk (27 Aug 2021)
10、Fung Business Intelligence / Asia Sourcing Update - Southeast Asia (August 2021)
12-month Sourcing Outlook
● Cambodia - Neutral
● Indonesia - Slightly negative
● The Philippines - Slightly negative
● Thailand - Slightly positive
● Vietnam - Neutral
Click here to download the full report.
Source: Fung Business Intelligence (31 Aug 2021)