Many of these workers are employed by retail establishments and by laundries and drycleaners. These employers are unaffected by imports and are unable to move operations abroad. Earnings Earnings of apparel workers vary by industry and by occupation. However, earnings vary significantly depending on the product being manufactured. Because many production workers in apparel manufacturing are paid according to the number of acceptable pieces they or their group produce, their total earnings depend on skill, speed, and accuracy.
Benefits also vary.
Those offered by large employers usually include paid holidays and vacations, health and life insurance coverage, and increasingly, child care. Those employed in retail trade also may receive a discount of 10 to 30 percent on their purchases. In addition, some of the larger manufacturers operate company stores, where employees can purchase apparel products at significant discounts. Some small firms, however, may offer only limited benefits. In addition to employer-sponsored benefits, the two principal unions, the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union and the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, provide benefits to their members.