M. Comm. / The aim of this dissertation was to investigate the current tariff structure applicable to the South African clothing industry and use this information to formulate recommendations on the tariff and trade policy that would best benefit the industry and the economy. Chapter 1 provided an introduction to the analysis of the tariffs applicable to the clothing industry by defining the problem statement, the relevance of the study and the method of research. Analysis of the tariff structure is important to both the government and the private sector. The government needs this type of information to assist in their policy formulation as regards tariffs and trade and the private sector needs to be aware of the implications of government policy on their profits and performance. Chapter 2 provided a literature study of tariff theory and an international comparison, particularly as regards clothing tariffs. Chapter 3 provided background information on the South African clothing industry. Chapter 4 represented the body of the analysis and provided a detailed investigation into the current tariff structure applicable to the South African clothing industry. The aim of Chapter 2 was to outline theory relevant to tariff protection, particularly as regards the clothing industry. In order to achieve this, various aspects of tariff theory, the implications of protection, and the relationship between protection and trade policy were discussed. Prerequisites for successful tariff protection include the existence of effective domestic rivalry, the potential for a favourable 'diamond' (strategy, structure and rivalry; demand conditions; related and supporting industries; and factor conditions) and that the protection is limited in duration. The effective tariff rate (or effective rate of protection) expresses the tariff as a percentage of the value added by the exporting industry in question. Effective tariff rates are very important as the nominal tariff can be deceptive. Most industrial nations have a cascading tariff structure with low nominal tariffs on raw materials and higher rates the greater the degree of processing. Thus, exports like clothing which use partially processed materials (textiles or fabrics) can face substantially different effective tariff rates in comparison to their nominal tariff rates (in the case of clothing in South Africa, the effective rate is about three times higher than the nominal rate). Theory shows that positive effects of tariff protection include protecting employment, changing the distribution of income (this could be positive or negative, depending on who benefits), protection of infant industries or young economies, protection of strategic industries, providing income for governments (from a source that is less controversial than most income taxes) and protection from dumping. Dumping protection is a questionable point and is seen by many economists as an excuse for higher protection to make more profit, rather than as a legitimate effort to prevent a negative activity. Most of the positive effects of protection are accompanied by negative effects or may not achieve their desired outcome. Negative results of tariff protection include that protection often fails to stimulate exports and domestic output, protection tends to promote inefficient firm scale and entry, protection may be anti-competitive and it may encourage corruption. The most important of the negative factors is the promotion of inefficient firm scale and entry, the promotion of anti-competitive behaviour and the encouragement of corruption both on the part of tariff officials at points of entry, and politicians. All of these negative effects encourage businesses to behave in a complacent and inefficient manner. The impact of protection on the cost position of the clothing and textile industries in South Africa was discussed.

M.Dip.Tech. / The theme for this dissertation has been specifically selected with a view to assisting second and third year students studying Garment Technology. It concentrates primarily on some of the newer ideas and specialized techniques which are being utilized by certain manufacturers, otherwise are not covered in the normal discourse of the hand and text book readily available to the students. The suggestions and methods covered in this work have been sourced directly from the workplace of several factories currently in full production, as well as from the authors own experience accumulated over several years whilst working with certain well known manufacturers. Historically, a tailored garment was made up b y a professional tailor who would spend many hours making tiny hand stitches, to shape the garment. Quality and finish were the key factors in those days, but with little or possibly no regard to the time that it took to make the garment. Time, however, has forced tailoring as well as all other facets of the clothing industry to undergo a complete metamorphosis. Faster and better methods have evolved over the years to increase production output, even today designers and manufacturers alike consistently strive to improve them even further so as to ultimately attain maximum financial returns. Tailoring has also been affected by major technological advances in machinery, fabrics, dyes, colors and even fusings. The introduction of softer pattern lines coupled with modern directions of design and even clever innovations such as softer shoulders pads, too have played a role in bringing about such change.

Summary in Chinese. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong. / Bibliography: leaves 130-131.

by Clement Kam-man Au. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Bibliography: leaves 77-79.

by Chan Chor-Wing Albert, Kan Chi-Sum Daniel. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 56-57.

Typescript, etc.

Typescript. / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Thesis (MPH) -- University of Limpopo, 2010. / Small-scale enterprises and the informal sector constitute the fastest growing economic sectors and represent the most realistic form of employment creation. In Botswana, the number of informal businesses increased by 72% from 1999 to 2007, an important proportion involved in clothing manufacture. These businesses are vulnerable and prone to concern themselves with survival rather than improving health and safety and as such health risks remain high in their workplaces. The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which small-scale clothing industries in the Gaborone area of Botswana comply with occupational health and safety standards and to make recommendations for the improvement of employee health and safety and productivity. A quantitative cross-sectional survey of 36 small enterprises was conducted and data was collected using an inspection checklist adapted from the ILO's guidelines on Safety, Health and working Conditions inspections. Results showed that the enterprises employed between I – 8 persons with two-thirds (59.4%) employing 1 - 2 persons indicating that small businesses in clothing manufacture comprised mostly self-employed persons. Predominantly females (2 - 1 female to male ratio) were employed thus confirming the findings of the 2007 informal sector survey in Botswana which showed that 67.6% informal businesses were owned by females. However, females are most at risk from health problems inherent in clothing manufacture particularly as studies show that musculoskeletal disorders that cause long-term disabilities and absenteeism are more common among them than males. Work processes in small-scale clothing manufacture was found to be labour-intensive, involving long hours of standing particularly for workers designing, cutting and ironing, and sitting for machinists who do sewing. Work also involved lifting of heavy loads, was repetitive with sustained use of force and high-paced. Workers operated for 5 hours in the morning and 3-5 hours in the afternoon continuously with only a I-hour lunch break without short breaks to rest thus increasing fatigue, risk of injuries and musculoskeletal disorders. Workbenches and chairs were not appropriate for the nature and type of work, causing workers to adopt awkward postures. The businesses were generally complying with requirements for cleanliness and provision of sanitary conveniences but ventilation and lighting were inadequate. None of the workplaces provided localized lighting and in most cases windows were too small to provide natural lighting and ventilation for normal airflow. Most workplaces were not complying with electrical installation standards. 63.9% of the workplaces had entangled wire connections and live wire terminals in the work area living workers exposed to serious injuries electrocution and burns from possible fire. Emergency preparedness of the workplaces was also poor as non-had a first aid kit; only 8.3% had fire extinguishers and most had no emergency exit but only one door serving as entrance and exit. In addition workplaces were not complying with standards for the use of protective clothing and equipment and the maintenance and guarding of machines. Moreover, employers were not complying with their legal obligation to identify, remove or mitigate hazards in the workplace and did not train nor supervise employees in safe work procedures and use of workstations and machinery. This survey revealed that small-scale clothing manufacture enterprises in the Gaborone area of Botswana were in the most not complying with universal occupational health and safety standards leading to a precarious state of workplace health and safety conditions. These findings justify the need to implement such improvements as reorientation of the factories inspection system, redesign of workbenches and chairs, granting employees short breaks to rest and grouping of businesses into small regional committees to facilitate training in occupational health and safety procedures and their use, and the identification and implementation of simple solutions for workplace health and safety problems.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether clothing influenced perceptions of personality characteristics often associated with success in business environments. Specifically, the study investigated the effect of clothing on (a) perceptions of task-oriented abilities of employees in a business setting, (b) perceptions of relationship-oriented abilities of employees in a business setting, and (c) perceptions of demographic-oriented qualities (education levels and income levels) of employees in a business setting. Seventy-six Speech Communication students were used as subjects for the study, 38 of whom were males and 38 of whom were females. Subjects included six freshmen, sixteen sophomores, seventeen juniors, 36 seniors, and one graduate student. Ages varied from nineteen to 48, with a mean of 22. Results indicated that formal clothing could be related to perceptions of task-oriented abilities in a business setting. However, neither formal clothing, nor casual clothing was related to perceptions of relationship-oriented abilities in a business setting. Finally, clothing could also be related to perceptions of education and income in a business setting. / Graduation date: 1995

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 16, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Laurel Wilson. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.