Gildan Activewear Inc. has requested the Fair Labor Association, in which Gildan is a Participating Company, to conduct an independent audit at one of its Honduran sewing facilities. The audit is related to a complaint filed with the FLA, alleging that Gildan had engaged in actions intended to impede workers' right to freedom of association. The complaint was filed by a Canadian-based activist group and a Canadian labour union.

Gildan stands by its performance in providing positive working conditions in all of its manufacturing locations and in respecting the laws of all countries in which it has operations. “We have dedicated a lot of effort and resources towards developing leadership as a socially responsible corporation and promoting respect for labour rights,” said Stephane Lemay, Vice-President, Public and Legal Affairs. “We are committed to maintaining excellent standards of working conditions in our facilities as well as those of our outside contractors.”

Under FLA rules, Gildan is prohibited from further discussing the complaint while FLA is conducting its audit. However, Gildan has offered to release the results of the audit once they are available, in a timely manner.