Daily Archives: April 19, 2017

House prices up, condo prices down in Regina – News Talk 980 CJME

Posted: April 19, 2017 at 10:01 am


News Talk 980 CJME
House prices up, condo prices down in Regina
News Talk 980 CJME
"While the city's resource-based economy has placed significant strain on the real estate market over the past two years, recent increases in the price of oil have positively impacted buyer sentiment, contributing to an upswing in sales activity in the ...
Canada's Two Largest Real Estate Markets Head in Opposite Directions in the First Quarter of 2017Canada NewsWire (press release)

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House prices up, condo prices down in Regina - News Talk 980 CJME

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Universal basic income can work only if welfare schemes are phased out: CEA Arvind Subramanian – Financial Express

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Universal basic income (UBI) will guarantee all citizens enough income to cover their basic needs and would be easier to administer than the current anti-poverty schemes, which are plagued by waste, corruption, and abuse. (Reuters)

The radical idea of giving free money under a universal basic income plan to reduce poverty can work in India only if the plethora of welfare schemes are phased out, Chief Economic Adviser Arvind Subramanian has said. Subramanian who had mooted the idea of universal basic income or a uniform stipend paid to every adult and child, poor or rich, in the annual survey of the economy this year said such a move will have to be completely financed from within and implemented at a mass scale. Universal basic income (UBI) will guarantee all citizens enough income to cover their basic needs and would be easier to administer than the current anti-poverty schemes, which are plagued by waste, corruption, and abuse.According to The Economist, Indias proposal to give every citizen a cash transfer using the digital platform Aadhaar could reduce absolute poverty from 22 per cent to 0.5 per cent. The Indian setting is completely different in two three different ways. One is that this is not going to be donor-financed at all (like in some African countries). It is going to be completely financed (from) within, Subramanian said in his appearance at the Center for Global Development, a top American think-tank.

So the issues that come up, relate to is do we have the fiscal space to do? Secondly, if it happened this is going to be kind of a scaled-up version. Its not going to be 80 villages, what is the impact and then we think about scaling up. It will be a scaled-up kind of a thing, he said, observing that this was something that does not necessarily need to be implemented by the centre like one scheme.

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States can start on their own, noted Subramanian, who is currently in the US to attend the annual Spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Observing that providing UBI would amount to between four and five per cent of GDP, he said the Indian government cannot afford that. So the only way it can work is to potentially we can phase down some of the existing programmes, otherwise it does not work, he said.

Then you get into the political economy of questions like can you phase down other subsidiesthe fertilizer subsidy, the employment guarantee scheme. Can you phase those programmes politically or now? When you cant phase it down an extra four-five per cent of GDP is not very meaningful, he said. Subramanian also noted that some people think that India has built in a reasonably well social welfare programme in terms of giving away subsidised food. Would this undermine that? And the third big question is, is the infrastructure to implement thisthe whole biometrics, financial inclusion, and mobile, he said in response to a question.

India currently has 1.1 billion people covered under biometrics. At the same time 250 million have banking financial accounts and about 60 per cent of those are linked to the AADHAAR numbers, Subramanian said. In terms of mobiles, 250 million people have smart phones, 300 million people have regular phones and 350 million people have no phones, he noted. Ideally one would like to have the biometric number, bank account and mobile phone linked with each other, he said. That is the kind of dream, we call it the JAM (Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile) infrastructure. At the moment, it is very patched in the way it is developed, he said.

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Noting that in principle nothing prevents a state government from going on its own, Subramanian said, what some of the states, which are thinking about it seriously, do want is federal money for this. The states might ask for untied money from the Centre, he said. That is the kind of conversation that is beginning to happen, because that would make it easier for the state governments to finance this, Subramanian said.

One of the starting points for this in India is the various social welfare schemes, like the employment guarantee scheme, the food or kerosene subsidy are very leaky and they do not do a very great job in reaching the poor, he said. UBI can easily be an improvement on that, the chief economic adviser said. Responding to a question, Subramanian said that it would be very difficult to phase out the existing subsidy programmes, because of the potential political opposition to it. Thats true across the world, very difficult to withdraw entitlements, he said. So unless you phase down existing programmesyou cant really (implement UBI)because the magnitude is so big, he said.

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Universal basic income can work only if welfare schemes are phased out: CEA Arvind Subramanian - Financial Express

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How Nonprofits Can Use Automation To Streamline Their Processes – Forbes

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How Nonprofits Can Use Automation To Streamline Their Processes
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I've been helping nonprofit organizations solve difficult challenges since 1999. During that time, I've noticed they are always trying to solve complex issues with less-than-sufficient resources. With new and rapidly developing cloud-based technologies ...

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How Nonprofits Can Use Automation To Streamline Their Processes - Forbes

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Delta Showcases Advanced Smart Applications for Industrial and Building Automation at Techno-Frontier 2017 in Japan – Yahoo Finance

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TAIPEI, Taiwan, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- At the forefront of industrial trends for smart factories and energy-efficient buildings, Delta today presented a variety of automation solutions and energy-saving products with high openness and high flexibility at the Techno-Frontier show in Japan. In the spotlight at Delta's booth are the new Delta high-level PC-based EtherCAT multi-axis motion control solution, which features the capability to simultaneously control up to 64 axes and 100 points, and the Delta Building Management and Control System, which supports a number of standardized communication protocols. Delta also unveiled its SCARA industrial robots for the first time in Japan, demonstrating a dynamic workstation that simulates the insertion operations of an electronics industry PCB board production line to present Delta's technology strengths in automation and smart manufacturing.

Mr. C.H. Ko, executive director of Delta Electronics (Japan) said that based on its core technology in power electronics, Delta actively develops automation and energy infrastructure products and solutions that are widely adopted around the world. Delta's first proprietary solar plant, Delta Ako Energy Park, which began operations last year, is generating up to 5,500,000kWh of electricity annually, exceeding original estimates by more than 10%. Delta's SCARA industrial robots and full range of industrial automation products have also been integrated into manufacturing plants in Taiwan, mainland China, Southeast Asia and other areas to implement smart, automated production lines for a range of industries.

Featuring high openness, high flexibility, and a high degree of customization, Delta's new PC-based EtherCAT multi-axis motion control solution integrates EtherCAT open network communication. With the use of Delta's high-end PC-based industrial controller, the solution can connect up to 100 points within 1 millisecond to achieve up to 64 axes of synchronous motion control. With its high scalability for multi-axis simultaneous motion and powerful industrial monitoring functions, Delta provides the best motion control solutions for a variety of applications -- from consumer electronics assembly for mobile phones, lenses, and more; to semiconductor processing for AOI detection, wafer cutting, and others; to stage, lighting and curtain automation equipment.

For building automation, Delta is presenting its fully integrated, high-performance, high-reliability products and solutions developed over the company's many years of industry experience. Delta will also spotlight the Building Management and Control System (BMCS) developed by its subsidiary company, LOYTEC. Delta's BMCS offers an assortment of leading design architectures for building automation, room automation and building infrastructure to meet clients' demands. It provides tailor-made software and hardware with detailed planning and design to help global clients manage their intelligent buildings with greater energy efficiency.

Highlights of Delta's exhibition at Techno-Frontier 2017 include:

Delta is also exhibiting its EC fans, PV inverters, high-efficiency rectifiers for mobile base station applications, data collection systems for smart meters using G3-PLC and/or Wi-SUN, and more. Visitors are welcome to come and see Delta's innovative solutions at Booth 6Q-45 between April 19th and 21st, 2017, at Makuhari Messe, Japan.

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Thomas Chang +886-2-87972088 #5511

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Delta Showcases Advanced Smart Applications for Industrial and Building Automation at Techno-Frontier 2017 in Japan - Yahoo Finance

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System Integrator Market for Industrial Automation Worth 56.05 Billion USD by 2022 – Yahoo Finance

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PUNE, India, April 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market research report "System Integrator Market for Industrial Automation by Service Outlook (Consulting, Hardware, and Software), Technology (SCADA, PLC, PAC, RTU, DCS, MES & MOM, PLM, HMI, APC, OTS, Safety Automation), Industry, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 56.05 Billion by 2022 from USD 41.47 Billion in 2016, at a CAGR of 5.0% between 2017 and 2022.

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Browse 67 market data Tables and 85 Figures spread through 178 Pages and in-depth TOC on "System Integrator Market for Industrial Automation"

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Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The major factors driving the growth of the system integrator market for industrial automation include the growing use of Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial automation, rising safety and security concerns, demand for low-cost energy-efficient production process by manufacturing plants, automation in manually uncontrollable processes, advancement in cloud computing technology, higher bargaining power of system integrators, and bundled products offered by system integrators.

Software integration service expected to hold the largest market size by 2022

Software integration service held the largest share of the system integrator market for industrial automation in 2016. This can be attributed to the wide acceptance of automation software including SCADA, DCS, MES, and PLM in industries as part of monitor and control solutions.

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Market for PLC, PAC, & RTU technology to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period

The system integrator market for PLC, PAC, and RTU technology is likely to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. PLC, PAC, and RTU technology controls the work-in-process, collects data from various sources in plants and sends it to SCADA or DCS for analysis, the growth of these segment is attributed to the increasing adoption of control systems in the industry at remote locations.

The Americas likely to hold the largest share of the system integrator market for industrial automation during the forecast period

The Americas is expected to hold the largest share of the system integrator market for industrial automation during the forecast period owing to the presence of major companies, such as ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Rockwell (US), General Electric (US), and Cameron (US) providing industrial automation solutions to the customers through system integrators. The Americas has a higher penetration of process industries, such as oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, chemical, and petrochemical. The processes in these industries are very complex and large. Therefore the implementation of automation solutions is necessary for these companies.

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The report also profiles the most promising players in this market. The competitive landscape of the market presents an interesting picture of the strategies adopted by a large number of players. The key players in this market are Wood Group Mustang (US), Prime Controls LP. (US), ATS Automation (Canada), Maverick Technologies (US), Wunderlich - Malec Engineering (US), Mangan Inc. (US), Avanceon (US), Dynamysk Automation Ltd. (Canada), Tesco Controls Inc. (US), Stadler+Schaaf Mess-Und Regeltechnik GmbH (Germany), INTECH Process Automation (US), Design Group (US), CEC Controls Co. Inc. (US), Burrow Global LLC (US), and Matrix Technologies (US).

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Industrial Control and Factory Automation Market by Technology (SCADA, PAC & RTU, DCS, Safety, MES & MOM, PLM), Component (Industrial Robots, Machine Vision, Control Valves, Enclosures, Cables), Industry (Process, and Discrete) - Global Forecast to 2022.

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System Integrator Market for Industrial Automation Worth 56.05 Billion USD by 2022 - Yahoo Finance

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Automation in Labor Could Worsen Income Inequality, BoC Official Warns – Wall Street Journal (subscription)

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Wall Street Journal (subscription)
Automation in Labor Could Worsen Income Inequality, BoC Official Warns
Wall Street Journal (subscription)
OTTAWAGovernments in the developed world will need to focus on mitigating income equality that could be made worse by advances in industries' automation, a senior Bank of Canada official said Tuesday. Automation has the potential to lift living ...
Canada Must Manage Harmful Effects of Automation, Wilkins SaysBloomberg
Automation will have significant impact on jobs, but don't fear the robots says Bank of Canada's WilkinsFinancial Post
Bank Of Canada Warns Of Rising Inequality From AutomationHuffington Post Canada
The Globe and Mail -Reuters -Bank of Canada
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Automation in Labor Could Worsen Income Inequality, BoC Official Warns - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

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Packaging Automation Market – Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 – 2025 – Yahoo Finance

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NEW YORK, April 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04826705/Packaging-Automation-Market-Global-Industry-Analysis-Size-Share-Growth-Trends-and-Forecast.html

Global Packaging Automation Market: Overview This report proposes strategic analysis of the global packaging automation market, and growth forecast for the period from 2017 to 2025. The scope of the research study covers competitive analysis of several market bifurcations based on the application, type and industries of the packaging automation market across different regional segments.

It also provides breakdown and analysis of several factors affecting the market growth, which are applicably defined as market drivers, restraints, and opportunities. In all, the report includes a complete analysis of the global packaging automation market, and provides an assessment of progress for the period 2017 to 2025, considering the numerous factors affecting the market.

Global Packaging Automation Market: Key Trends and Growth Drivers Packaging is one of the significant elements of the product manufacturing process. It aids in protecting the products from physical damage, dust, and various other factors, adding further value to the products. In order to attain maximum profits, cost cutting becomes important in the light of intense competition and increasing globalization of manufacturing. Standardized HMI helps in reducing the learning curve required for training machine operators. HMI templates that are designed to offer consistent look and feel help the end users to reduce training and development time. While creating customizable and standardized HMIs, screen and navigation options are planned for various uses, so that the screens are easily customized as per the machines efficiently.

Safety regulations are major concerns among manufacturers especially in health care and food and beverage industry, more so in emerging economies such as India, China, and Latin America. Safety regulations can be adhered to by developing applications which include automated reporting capabilities that helps in generating brief reports for each packaging line.

Automation helps in reducing labor cost both directly and indirectly as well. Directly in the sense that every task that is done autonomously requires no labor force, thereby, cutting down the cost. Indirect labor saving is attained through automation that helps in reducing scraps, defective packaging, material handling and component orientation time.

Large industries where bulk of items are packed per minute require robotic automation to fulfil the packaging demand. Application of automated machines means it requires less labor to accomplish the packaging process, thus lessening the labor cost in the long term period. Automation is boosting the demand of packaging automation in the global market since the present automated machineries needs less maintenance, thereby reducing the machine downtime. Investment in automatic equipment is costly that is easily recoverable; but smaller companies do not want to invest huge amounts as they do not want to take risks at the preliminary stage.

The E-commerce sector is booming globally especially in developing countries. Due to the rapid growth of e-commerce, worldwide logistics has become complex and difficult to keep up with. Packaging is an important part of the e-commerce sector. Demand for online shopping has increased in the past couple of years due to which online retailers require large e-fulfilment centers and efficient machinery for packaging the ordered products in bulk.

Global Packaging Automation Market: Key Segments On the basis of industries, the market is bifurcated into logistics, food and beverages, healthcare, retail, electronics, automotive among others. The food and beverage segment accounted for the highest revenue share in 2016. Health care segment is one of the fastest growing market in the global packaging automation market. The packaging automation market is bifurcated into six segments based on the applications. They are palletizing, labeling, filling, capping, wrapping among others. Among these six application segments, palletizing segment held highest market revenue share during the forecast period. Based on types, the market is bifurcated into packaging robot, automated packagers and automated conveyors. The packaging robot segment accounted for the highest revenue share during the forecast period. Based on the region is segregated into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Latin America. Europe accounted for the highest market revenue followed by Asia Pacific, North America, Middle East and Africa and Latin America.

Companies Mentioned in Report Some of the principal players in the global packaging automation market are Schneider Electric SE (France), Rockwell Automation, Inc. (U.S.), Siemens AG (Germany), ABB Ltd. (Switzerland), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan), Schneider Electric SE (France), Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Emerson Electric Co. (U.S.), Beumer Group GmbH & Co., Kg (Germany), Swisslog Holding AG (Switzerland), and Kollmorgen (U.S.)among others.

The market has been segmented as follows: Global Packaging Automation Market, by Application: Palletizing Labeling Filling Capping Wrapping Others

Global Packaging Automation Market, by Type: Packaging Robot Automated Packagers Automated Conveyors

Global Packaging Automation Market, by Industries: Logistics Food and Beverages Health Care Retail Electronics Automotive Others

Packaging Automation Market, by Geography: The market is segmented on the basis of geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America North America U.S. Canada Rest of North America

Europe U.K. Germany France Italy Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific India China Japan Rest of Asia Pacific

Middle East & Africa South Africa U.A.E. Rest of Middle East and Africa

Latin America Brazil Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p04826705/Packaging-Automation-Market-Global-Industry-Analysis-Size-Share-Growth-Trends-and-Forecast.html

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Packaging Automation Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025 - Yahoo Finance

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Investing in A.I., Automation Can Help Your ETF Portfolio | ETF Trends – ETF Trends

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Do you imagine artificial intelligence (A.I.) as a distant technology of the future? In reality, A.I., robotics, and machine learning are here and rapidly transforming all industries, markets and lives, potentially opening up a targeted exchange traded fund investment opportunity.

On the upcoming webcast, Investing in Artificial Intelligence and Automation Can Help Your ETF Portfolio, Wyatt Newman, Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Dept. at Case Western Reserve University, Travis Briggs, CEO of ROBO Global U.S., and William Studebaker, CIO and President of ROBO Global, will help investors gain real intelligence on artificial intelligence and explain how advisors can incorporate exposure to the growing segment into a diversified investment portfolio.

To help investors access the growing industry of robotics and automation, ROBO Global created an index, which served as the underlying benchmark for the ROBOGlobal Robotics & Automation Index ETF (NasdaqGM: ROBO). ROBO provides exposure to global companies engaged in the business of robotics-related or automation-related industries.

Robotics- or automation-related products and services include any technology, service or device that supports, aids or contributes to any type of robot, robotic action or automation system process, software or management.

The robotics ETF follows a two-tiered, equal-weighted system that ensures the strategy provides diversified exposure to a broad global ecosystem of new and enabling technologies as well as established automation/robotic providers. Specifically, the ETF includes a 60% tilt toward non-bellwether robotics with growing revenue contributions and a 40% tilt toward bellwether robotics companies that are well-established in the space.

The robotics ETFs portfolio may also provide exposure to companies with sustainable growth opportunities, as the underlying ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index has exhibited attractive sales growth, EBITDA growth and earnings-per-share growth. The underlying index has even outperformed the broader technology and S&P 500 index since the 2008 financial downturn.

Sector exposures include consumer cyclical 1.0%, energy 3.9%, industrials 46.8%, technology 38.6% and healthcare 9.7%.

Top holdings include Nabtesco Corp 1.9%, Krones AG 1.9%, Intuitive Surgical 1.9%, Harmonic Drive Systems 1.9% and Oceaneering International 1.9%.

Financial advisors who want to learn more about the robotics and automation industry can register for the Wednesday, April 19 webcast here.

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Investing in A.I., Automation Can Help Your ETF Portfolio | ETF Trends - ETF Trends

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Slavery laws would force Australian fashion labels to be more ethical report – The Guardian

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A report examining 106 clothing companies that operate or sell in Australia found that none could guarantee everyone who worked along their supply chain was paid a living wage. Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

Introducing modern slavery laws would force Australian clothing companies to clean up their supply chains and catch up with international competitors, the authors of the annual Baptist World Aid Ethical Fashion Report have said.

The report, released on Wednesday, investigated the workers rights policies of 106 clothing companies that operate or sell in Australia. It found the proportion of companies that were actively trying to trace their supply chain had increased from 49% in 2013 to 81% in 2017, but only 7% knew where all their cotton was manufactured.

It also found none of the surveyed companies could guarantee that everyone who worked along their supply chain was paid a living wage. Only one company, Australian-owned Mighty Good Undies, could guarantee that everyone involved in the final stage of its production processes was paid a living wage.

The Baptist World Aid advocacy manager, Gershon Nimbalker, said the majority of companies surveyed had greatly improved their practices since the first report in 2013, but a small number were lagging behind.

Nimbalker said modern slavery laws, similar to those recently introduced in the UK which require businesses to disclose what they are doing to minimise the risk of slavery in their supply chain, would force those companies to improve.

Where companies are sourcing from regions or nations that have low law enforcement, poor industrial relations systems, and they dont have traceability, the risks of the worst forms of exploitation, including slavery, are very high, he told Guardian Australia.

One of the reports Im getting back [on the effect of modern slavery laws in the UK] is that it has absolutely lifted the consciousness that people have that companies need to be doing more, or at least being seen to do more, to address the problems of slavery throughout its supply chain.

Australia launched a parliamentary inquiry into introducing modern slavery laws in February.

The mining magnate Andrew Forrest has thrown his support behind the proposed laws, telling a forum this month that Fortescue Metals Group had audited its supply chain and discovered some of its suppliers used forced labour.

Nimbalker said he had toured fabric mills in India that used child labour or bonded labour, and there was an enormous risk fabric manufactured through slavery would end up in garments in Australian stores.

Consumers have a huge capacity to make a difference in this, he said. We hear from companies all the time that its building trust with their consumer base that they all really value. So when consumers preference those companies that are doing more to support workers and vote with their wallets in that way then they encourage the industry to improve. And they call on the laggards to lift their game. The companies hear that and they respond.

The Ethical Fashion Report grades companies on their knowledge of suppliers at the raw material, inputs and final production stages, as well as on the strength of their policies and the level of transparency they provide to consumers.

Nine companies, including Patagonia, Cotton On, Adidas, Liminal Apparel, Inditex (which produces Zara), Nudie Jeans and Pacific Brands received an A grade, while ethical clothing companies Mighty Good Undies, Etiko and RREPP received an A+.

Ten companies received an F: Wish; Corporate Apparel Group, which produces the brands Ron Bennett, Sew253 and Get Formal; Roger David; Voyager Distributing Co, producing Jump, Kachel and Ping Pong; Oxford; Ally Fashion; Betts; Bloch; Decjuba; and Farmers.

Baptist World Aid said while all 10 companies declined to take part in the report, Corporate Apparel Group pointed to the governance policies on its website.

Oxford also responded by detailing its social audit process, which checks each factory for the use of child labour, forced labour, health and safety, working hours and other employment practices. It said those reports were too sensitive to release but invited Baptist World Aid to inspect them in person, adding: Our concern for worker exploitation is evidenced by our commitment and perseverance to ensuring organisations within our supply chain consistently treat their employees fairly and humanely.

Separately, Decjuba told Guardian Australia it was not obliged to complete or participate in the ethical fashion survey but was continually working to evolve our ethical footprint in line with its ethical supply principles, which included a requirement for workers to be paid a living wage and zero tolerance for child labour.

Guardian Australia contacted all 10 companies that received an F grade prior to publication. Those companies had declined to participate in the survey rather than being found to be non-compliant.

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Slavery laws would force Australian fashion labels to be more ethical report - The Guardian

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Oxford, Wish and Roger David slammed for their silence on their supply chains – The Sydney Morning Herald

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Well-known Australian fashion companies are keeping their overseas supply chains cloaked in secrecy, with the likes of Wish, Oxford and Roger David refusing to detail their efforts to stamp out exploitation and sweatshop conditions.

Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse that killed more than 1120 Bangladeshi garment workers, Baptist World Aid (BWA) has graded 106 companies A to F based on how transparent they are about their supply chains.

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According to the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, garment workers face poor working conditions, but "when workers know their law and rights, they're eager to organise unions and form unions". Courtesy of Human Rights Watch.

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Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff falls just short of votes in a Georgia special election to help the Democrats win back Congress.

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Residents of the Indonesian capital cast their votes in a religiously divisive election between a Christian and Muslim candidate running for the governor's office.

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North Korea's state television aired a show which ended with a mock-up video of missiles engulfing the United States in flames.

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The owner of an Erie, Pennsylvania McDonald's says an employee spotted Steve Stephens when he came through the restaurant drive-thru.

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Archeologists excavate the 3000-year-old tomb of Userhat, an Egyptian nobleman.

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US President Donald Trump said an aircraft carrier was heading to North Korea, but a US Navy photo showed the warship was not heading in that direction.

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This 1.5 metre-long mollusc may not have the best looks, but scientists have discovered something fascinating about how these unusual mud-dwelling creatures survive.

According to the Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity, garment workers face poor working conditions, but "when workers know their law and rights, they're eager to organise unions and form unions". Courtesy of Human Rights Watch.

Topping the list are Australian Fairtrade-certified companies Etiko, Mighty Good Undies and RREPP. They are closely followed by global names such as Patagonia, Inditex (Zara), and Reebok.

Overall, half of those surveyed were able to boost their grade, with adventure brand Macpac, luxury label Oroton, and fast fashion chain Cotton On making the biggest jumps.

But nine companies refused to answer questions and were accordingly slapped with an F, including fashion brands Oxford, Wish, Decjuba, Roger David and Betts.

"If they don't share this information, there's no way that consumers can know they're doing enough to ensure that workers aren't being exploited," said BWA's advocacy manager Gershon Nimbalker.

"We sent emails, wrote letters to the company, CEO and chair of the board, made follow up phone calls multiple times and gave them long lead times of three to six months."

Oxford, Wish, Decjuba, Roger David and Betts did not respond to Fairfax Media's request for comment.

The "Ethical Fashion Report" shows that in the past year the proportion of companies publishing their final stage suppliers' business names and addresses has grown from 16 per cent to 26 per cent.

The report shows that more companies are diving deeper into their supply chains to identify who farms the raw material and spins the fibres but only 7 per cent know where all of their cotton is coming from.

Some of the world's biggest cotton producers, including India and Uzbekistan, continue to be plagued by slavery and child labour issues.

It also shows the proportion of companies that could demonstrate improved wages for workers has grown from 11 per cent in 2013 to 42 per cent this year.

"Paying workers a living wage is achievable even for high volume, low cost operators, and it could transform the lives of millions while driving economic growth in their communities," Mr Nimbalker said.

Low wages continue to be one of the fashion industry's biggest problems, with companies flocking to countries such as Bangladesh to take advantage of cheap labour.

Salaheya Khatun, 25, is one of Bangladesh's 5 million garment workers. She sews T-shirts all day at a factory in the heart of the country's capital, Dhaka.

She is only paid $113 a month, which is slightly higher than the minimum wage but far below the living wagewhich would cover her basic needs. She sends nearly half to her parents who are raising her daughter.

"I am in debt by around 1000 Taka [$16] every month because I need to pay for groceries and supplies on credit," she said. "I just want to be able to support my family."

Carolyn Katto from Stop the Traffik, a coalition of 30 groups fighting to end human trafficking, said while the report showed big progress at the cut-make-trim stage of production, there was still "huge abuse" further down the supply chain.

She said in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, which produces most of the world's cotton knit fabrics, more than 300,000 young women were trapped in the Sumangali labour scheme.

"I met one woman who said to me, 'I am just like a machine trying to survive amongst machines'," Ms Katto said. "She regularly worked double shifts but didn't get paid for it. They would lock the doors."

She said one mill owner told her that demand for quicker turnaround times and cheaper prices meant they couldn't pay their workers properly.

"There are children in Uzbekistan and widows in India that are part of this supply chain, and we're on the other end, so what we choose to do will determine the living conditions for these people," she said.

Mr Nimbalker said he hoped the federal government would adopt the UK's Modern Slavery Act, which requires businesses to take decisive steps to eradicate slave labour.

"What we want to see is a robust piece of legislation that has the right mandatory disclosures and penalties to make it meaningful to address the problems of slavery," he said.

"We want consumers to vote with their wallets and call on companies to lift their game."

The 2017 Ethical Fashion Report can be seen here.

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Oxford, Wish and Roger David slammed for their silence on their supply chains - The Sydney Morning Herald

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