Who we are

People who make our clothes have a right to safe factories, fair contracts and wages, and freedom to organise.

In 1989, a group of activists in the Netherlands took up the case of a garment factory in the Philippines where women were fired for demanding a legal minimum wage. They wanted to support garment workers’ organising efforts, bridge the gap between consumers and workers, and hold multinationals accountable. 

Today, the Clean Clothes Campaign is a global network of over 220 organisations, operating in over 45 countries. We hold brands accountable for their abuse and exploitation while pushing for long-term change in the industry.

• Making factories safe for millions
  The International Accord, a binding agreement between brands and unions that improves safety for factory workers started in 2013 in Bangladesh and is now expanding its work to ever more countries to ensure that workers do not have to risk their life and health at work.
• Securing millions in unpaid wages and benefits for workers through over 500 Urgent Appeals cases and the #PayYourWorkers campaign.
• Standing up for union rights for workers
  In Cambodia, Turkey, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh and elsewhere — our pressure campaigns have led to the release of many workers from prison, with bogus criminal charges dropped.
• Achieving transparency
  Many global brands committed to our Transparency Pledge, many more published supply chain information.
• Securing compensation payments for victims and their families
  In the wake of the massive Rana Plaza, Tazreen, and Ali Enterprises tragedies of 2012-2013 and many smaller incidents before and since. We actively work towards structural systems to compensate workers for workplace injuries.

Our achievements are thanks to our powerful network and the engagement of hundreds of thousands of people who support our joint campaigns.