Gildan Activewear announces its response to the Fair Labor Association report

Gildan Activewear announces its response to the Fair Labor
Association report 


MONTREAL, July 26  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gildan Activewear Inc. (NYSE: GIL;
TSX: GIL.A) today announced that further to an audit conducted by the Fair
Labor Association (FLA) in Gildan's El Progreso, Honduras, sewing facility
earlier this year, it has submitted its response to the FLA in order to fully
comply with FLA's code of conduct, an integral part of Gildan's commitment to
FLA as a Participating Company. The FLA is currently reviewing this response,
in collaboration with Gildan.

A number of the actions proposed to the FLA have already been implemented in
the El Progreso facility, which will be closing for economic and operational
reasons at the end of September 2004. Gildan also intends to use its response
as a model upon which to further refine standards for its other sewing
facilities in the region. "Although we currently have in place excellent
working conditions in all our facilities making Gildan a leader in its industry
on the social responsibility front, we found the FLA process and the
introduction of an independent point of view very useful," said President and
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Glenn J. Chamandy. "While some of the FLA findings
were definitely more concerning than others and required immediate redressing,
the concerns are all manageable".

In 2003, Gildan became the only Canadian company and the only manufacturer
catering to the wholesale imprinted activewear industry to become a
Participating Company of the FLA. The strict standards that the FLA imposes on
its Participating Companies was one of the primary reasons why Gildan decided
to join this organization. By belonging to the FLA, Gildan has agreed to submit
its facilities to audit processes such as the one with which it has recently
cooperated. Identifying and rectifying any issues that emerge in its facilities
is an essential component of the company's ongoing commitment to achieving best
practices and offering the best working environment possible to its employees
as well as being a socially responsible company.

"We are committed to implementing any further improvements in our working
environment that may arise from our Participating Company status with the FLA",
concluded Mr. Chamandy.

Gildan's response is available on the company's website at
http://www.gildan.com/en/company/response.cfm .

Gildan Activewear Inc. is a public, vertically integrated manufacturer and
marketer of premium quality branded basic activewear for sale principally in
the wholesale imprinted activewear segment of the Canadian, U.S., European and
other international markets. Our company manufactures and sells premium quality
100% cotton and 50% cotton / 50% polyester T-shirts, sport shirts and
sweatshirts in a variety of weights, sizes, colours and styles. We sell our
products as blanks, which are ultimately decorated with designs and logos for
sale to consumers. Over 9,300 full-time employees work in our facilities
worldwide. 

DATASOURCE: GILDAN ACTIVEWEAR INC.



CONTACT: Stephane Lemay, Vice-President, Public and Legal Affairs, (514)

734-8394, Cell. [phone], 

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