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Calling for Living Wage Action Day on 25 September
European garment workers face forced overtime and poverty wages
The text “Made in Europe” on a label is frequently perceived as a guarantee of good working conditions in the production of garments. However, two new country researches of Clean Clothes Campaign into working conditions in Poland and the Czech Republic show that workers in the garment industry in the European Union get poverty wages and are confronted with forced overtime which sometimes goes unpaid.
Labour groups demand H&M deliver "safety conscious" fashion
Labour rights groups in Europe, Bangladesh and North America are today launching a call for consumers to participate in a global day of action on May 3rd. The protests, which will coincide with H&M’s 2016 Annual General Meeting in Solna, Sweden, will demand H&M finally keep its promises to make its Bangladeshi supplier factories safe. A review of corrective action plans relating to 32 of H&M’s strategic suppliers, carried out this week, shows that the majority of these factories still lack adequate fire exits nearly three years after H&M committed to improve working conditions by signing the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety.
CCC dissappointed by lack of action transparency EU
On the 25th of April 2016, the European Commission launched its flagship initiative to promote responsible management of the supply chain in garment. The Clean Clothes Campaign continues to urge the Commission to create real transparency in the garment sector.
Clean Clothes Campaign urges the establishment of institutional frameworks for remediation and prevention
At the International Labour Conference (ILC), starting today in Geneva, Clean Clothes Campaign will call upon the representatives of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations from 187 member states to establish institutional and enforcement frameworks that enable effective remedy after and prevention of disasters in global supply chains. Clean Clothes Campaign welcomes the fact that for the first time in the long history of the ILC, global supply chain issues are a main focus of the conference, and follows the work of the Committee on Decent Work in Global Supply Chains with heightened interest.
Nike, adidas and Puma's workers earn poverty wages to pay for European championship endorsements
The three main sportswear sponsors of the UEFA European championship 2016, Nike, adidas and Puma, pay poverty wages to the workers that stitch their shirts, shows a report by Collectif Ethique sur l’étiquette (Clean Clothes Campaign in France), presented in English today. The report ‘Foul Play’ exposes the adverse impact on workers of a business model based on low labour costs and relocation to countries with the lowest wages and weak labour regulation. At the same time these brands invest massively in endorsement deals with players, national teams and clubs. Nike, adidas and Puma's prime concern is economic performance and profit, which will be considerable during the European championship, while the workers come off worst.
Four Chinese activists to stand on trial: speaker tour in UK
Four of the activists who were arrested in Guangdong, China in December last year during a crack down on civil society are to stand on trial soon. In the December incident, more than 50 activists were interrogated and seven were detained or went missing. Next week, Chinese women activists are touring the UK to talk about garment workers in China and the Chinese arrests.
CCC reaction to the launch of children’s clothing collection by H&M and WWF
On 29th of September, H&M and WWF have launched a new collection of children’s clothing aimed at leading the way toward a more environmentally friendly garment industry. While H&M and WWF attempt to reduce water pollution and promote closed loop recycling management, core problems of their ‘fast fashion’ model are not addressed. H&M continues to pursue a business model that relies heavily on high sales volumes, rapid growth rates and overconsumption, and is therefore truly unsustainable at heart. The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) fears that the company is once again profiting from a marketing opportunity that will lead to little change for affected people and may mislead consumers.
CCC statement on the use of Syrian workers in high street supply chains
Clean Clothes Campaign welcomes the attention received by the recent BBC Panorama investigation into the exploitation of Syrian refugees, including children, within the supply chains of major European clothing retailers. We are calling on the Turkish government, the European Union and all major clothing brands to make sure adequate protections are in place that guarantee full respect of the rights of Syrian workers that will continue to be employed in the production of our clothing.
CCC urge EU to address Sri Lanka's labour violations prior to re-admission GSP+
Clean Clothes Campaign, IndustriALL Global Union and the International Trade Union Confederation urge the European Union to adopt a roadmap for Sri Lanka with time-bound measures to comply with the ILO core conventions before the country can benefit from GSP+. Sri Lanka is currently in serious breach of those conventions.
Victory: Company drops legal case against Romanian journalist reporting on dire working conditions
An international campaign convinced the Italian-owned factory Maglierie Cristian Impex in Romania to drop the trial against a Romanian investigative journalist for reporting on dire working conditions in one of the largest producers of garments in Romania. The factory employs around 900 people and produces for luxury brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Marco Polo and LaCoste, but also for high street fashion brands such as Zara and Bershka.
Nordic fashion brands need to tackle abuse of Syrian refugees in Turkish garment factories
Thousands of Syrian refugees work long hours in Turkey’s apparel factories in unhealthy conditions with salaries below the minimum wage. Despite Turkey being an important sourcing market for the Nordic brands H&M, KappAhl, Lindex, Gina Tricot and Varner (BikBok, Cubus, Carlings et al), the companies are not doing enough to prevent discrimination of Syrians in their supply chains, according to a report by Fair Action and Future in our hands.
Labour rights groups call for a review of EU-Bangladesh trade agreement following massive crackdown on workers rights
The Clean Clothes Campaign is today joining calls from the global trade unions to demand that the European Union immediately initiate an immediate investigation into serious and systematic violations of fundamental workers’ rights in Bangladesh as provided under the EU’s “Everything But Arms” trade scheme. The call follows the arbitrary arrest and detention of workers and union leaders, the closure of union offices, mass dismissals and ongoing threats and intimidation of union activists.
German brands s.Oliver and Gerry Weber targeted by protesters in Indonesia
Two Indonesian trade unions organised a protest in front of the German Embassy in Jakarta today (30 March). Protesters brought attention to the responsibility that German brands s.Oliver and Gerry Weber have for thousands of workers who lost their jobs when these brands' Indonesian supplier Jaba Garmindo closed down in 2015.
Focus on labour rights in Sri Lanka prior to the decision on preferential trade access to the EU market
Two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) visited Sri Lanka to evaluate respect for labour rights prior to the European Union's decision on granting Sri Lanka the so-called GSP+ preferential trade access. During the visit the government committed to labour rights improvements, such as progress on ongoing cases, allowing trade union access to export processing zones, a revision of the labour law and of the union threshold (currently at 40%), and ensuring that the benefits of the preferential trade status would be shared with the workers.
More brands should reveal where their clothes are made. 17 align with Transparency Pledge; others should catch up
More apparel and footwear companies should join 17 leading apparel brands that have aligned with an important new transparency pledge, a coalition of unions and human rights and labor rights advocates said in a joint report issued today. The pledge commits companies to publish information that will enable advocates, workers, and consumers to find out where their products are made.
Clean Clothes Campaign welcomes European Parliament's motion to improve garment industry
Clean Clothes Campaign welcomes the motion of the European Parliament on the so called 'EU Flagship Initiative on the garment sector'. Through this motion the Parliament takes on a leadership role in demanding mandatory due diligence in the textile sector, and mandatory transparency in the supply chain – both of which are direly needed to improve the garment industry.
EU should use review to push for workers' rights and freedom of association in Bangladesh
Tomorrow, 18 May, the third annual review of the so-called "Sustainability Compact" between Bangladesh, the European Union and the International Labour Organization takes place in Dhaka. Despite optimism voiced by the EU, Bangladesh is still far from meeting its international labour rights' commitments and taking concrete steps enshrined under the Compact. A striking example is the wave of repression which the the Bangladeshi labour movement has faced since December 2016. Clean Clothes Campaign calls upon the EU, as well as brands, national governments and other stakeholders, to maintain pressure on the Bangladeshi government to improve labour conditions and comply with the Compact's demands.
European Parliament should vote for an investigation into Bangladesh labour violations
Clean Clothes Campaign is today calling on members of the European Parliament to call for a trade investigation into labour rights abuses as part of a resolution on Bangladesh that will be debated this Wednesday. Such an investigation would be carried out by the European Commission in order to assess whether the ongoing and systematic repression of trade union rights in Bangladesh should disqualify it from accessing preferential trading terms with the EU.
Zara, Next, Mango Slammed for Leaving Workers Without Wages in Turkish Factory
Workers at the Bravo Tekstil factory complex in Istanbul, Turkey are demanding their back wages and severance after working without payment for three months followed by the sudden shutdown of their factory. As the factory was producing for the apparel brand giants Zara, Next, and Mango, Clean Clothes Campaign supports the workers’ demand that these brands take responsibility and pay up.
No more excuses: New evidence reveals EU Action on Bangladesh labour rights abuses long over-due
In light of new evidence, trade unions and labour organizations are today renewing their calls to the European Commission to make good on its promise to launch a trade investigation into Bangladesh as a result of its government’s continued failure to make urgently needed reforms to the law and practice governing trade union rights in the country’s Ready Made Garment industry.
Report finds ‘Made in Europe’ label tied to garment and shoe production in European sweatshops
A new report published today by the Clean Clothes Campaign, Europe's Sweatshops, documents endemic poverty wages and other stark working conditions in the garment and shoe industry throughout Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Despite working overtime, many workers in the Ukraine for example make just EUR 89 a month, where a living wage would have to be five times that much. Among customers of the factories are fashion brands like Benetton, Esprit, GEOX, Triumph and Vera Moda.
Garment workers are waiting for an answer – will H&M deliver on its promise to pay a living wage in 2018?
Four years ago today, H&M made a bold promise that, if kept, would mean a game changer for the industry. On 25 November 2013, the company vowed to pay what H&M calls a ‘fair living wage’ to the garment workers in its supply chain by 2018. On the fourth anniversary of H&M’s historic statement, with 2018 just around the corner, Clean Clothes Campaign and global partners are greatly anticipating the moment next year when every garment worker that stitches clothes for H&M will receive a living wage.
70,000 people demand that Armani and Primark reveal where they make their clothes
70,000 people call upon major garment brands and retailers Armani, Primark, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21 and Walmart to make transparency part of their New Year’s resolutions and publicly disclose the factories that produce their clothes. Throughout January, activists will deliver golden boxes of signatures to luxury brand Armani and cost-cutter Primark in major European cities. Other targeted brands can also expect to find signatures left on their doorsteps.
New report: false promises and restriction of movement in production for Western garment brands
Female migrants employed in India’s garment factories supplying to big international brands like Benetton, C&A, GAP, H&M, Levi’s, M&S and PVH, are subject to conditions of modern slavery. In Bangalore, India’s biggest garment producing hub, young women are recruited with false promises about wages and benefits, they work in garment factories under high-pressure for low wages. Their living conditions in hostels are poor and their freedom of movement is severely restricted. Claiming to be eighteen at least, many workers look much younger.