Heineken008 t1_ja1kl4v wrote
Reply to comment by chrysostomos_1 in The EU sent in 2021 more than 112 million items of second-hand clothing to Kenya, at least 37 million manufactured with synthetic materials, a new report shows. by green_flash
The Mitumba industry is at the very least highly controversial. Yes it does employ thousands of people but there is an enormous amount of waste in unusable clothing and it also prevents there from being much local production of textiles.
chrysostomos_1 t1_ja1v049 wrote
Not controversial at all if you believe in an integrated world economy. If the African textile industry were healthy it would supply materials that manufacturers would use rather than using second hand textiles. The national authorities could ban second hand materials but then the industry would go dark and the workers would suffer. Less clothing would be produced from recycled materials, prices would go up and the locals would be that much worse off. That's how I read it at least.
Heineken008 t1_ja42z3q wrote
Some countries like Rwanda have banned the practice. Kenya which is the main hub for East Africa is considering banning it, in fact Raila Odinga campaigned on it.
chrysostomos_1 t1_ja4aelt wrote
Beware of unintended consequences. My guess is that the local recycle industry which employs thousands of local people will be replaced by low cost imports from Bangladesh and Vietnam. If high import duties are enacted to support local clothing manufacturers then costs go up to the locals and benefits go up to smugglers and corrupt border officials.
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