Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does the CCC do?
We work by putting pressure on companies, provide support in urgent cases of violations, raise the public awareness and explore legal options for improving working conditions.
How is the Clean Clothes Campaign structured?
The CCC is a Europe-based alliance of autonomous national coalitions with an international secretariat in Amsterdam. Each national coalition includes NGOs and trade unions and sends a representative to the European Coordination Meeting three times a year.
Why do you focus on clothing and sportswear?
By focusing on garments and sportswear, we can better understand the fundamental problems in the industry, offer recommendations on how to solve them, and make a direct connection with consumers about the clothes they wear.
Has the CCC been successful in helping to improve working conditions?
Yes. Each year, the CCC receives dozens of requests from partner organisations and workers seeking solidarity support in cases of labour and human rights violations. Many of these are won, by the combined efforts of the workers, the CCC and others, and you!
Where can I buy 'clean' clothes?
We know that you would like a list of 'good' brands, so you know where to shop (and where to stop!). The answer is unfortunately not as clear as a 'good' and a 'bad' list...
How much of the money I spend trickles down to workers? Won't 'clean clothes' be expensive?
In an estimate of a €100 pair of shoes made in Indonesia, just €0.50 (that's 0.5% of the total retail cost) goes to production workers’ wages.
Workers' wages seem low, but isn't that because the cost of living is so much cheaper in garment-producing countries?
The cost of living in garment-producing countries is indeed cheaper than in the global north, but garment workers are still not paid a wage that covers their basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing and education.
Do you support boycotts of factories?
In one word: No. There are some exceptions, but in general we want a long-term solution to the problem, which will improve the lives of the workers.
Where can I find information on specific companies and their labour practices?
There are a number of resources to help you find information on brands.
Some companies claim to check their suppliers regularly to make sure working conditions are OK. Are they telling the truth?
There are a lot of so-called monitoring programs around, but unless the workers are actively involved this can be just window-dressing.
What responsibility should a company have for workers it doesn't employ?
In today’s global economy, the clothes we wear will have been produced by workers across an ocean and passed from one business to another before being sold for a tidy profit by a retailer whose name we all know. The Clean Clothes Campaign believes a company's responsibility encompasses its complete supply chain all the way down to home-based workers.
Shouldn't governments be responsible for regulating working conditions?
In principle, yes. But in practice this approach would not be enough: governments in many cases are weak, and even if they want to, they are dependant on economic constraints.
What should a company do when human or labour rights violations are discovered in its supply chain?
In short: it should engage, not run away from its responsability.
What is a code of conduct and why does it matter?
Successful campaigning by the Clean Clothes Campaign and other labour rights’ organisations has led many businesses to adopt “codes of conduct,” a list of standards that companies expect from suppliers. Company codes vary by content as well as commitment. The CCC pushes companies to give these codes real meaning by including provisions for implementation, monitoring and verification, and dispute resolution.
What are ILO conventions and core labour standards?
A part of the United Nations, the ILO has set minimum standards that should be a right for every worker, all over the world.