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Public letter: H&M must stick to the living wage commitment made in 2013
Back in 2013 H&M made a widely publicized commitment: that workers in their supply chain would be paid a living wage by 2018. As 2018 has already begun but hundreds of thousands of workers behind H&M's products are still receiving poverty wages, Clean Clothes Campaign nudged H&M's top ranks with a public letter today. Addressing H&M's Board of Directors, CEO and Head of Sustainability, we requested specific information regarding efforts made so far be made public, and we outlined the steps H&M would have to take to act on the 2013 commitment in a meaningful way.
Clean Clothes Campaign files complaint against Adidas for breaching OECD guidelines in Indonesia
Global chorus of support grows for persecuted Cambodian human rights defender Tola Moeun
Over 100 organizations have now joined the call for an end to the politically motivated prosecution of Cambodian human rights defender Tola Moeun, since a letter to the Cambodian government was published last month.
Projection on Tate Modern Calling Attention to UNIQLO’s Disdain for Garment Workers
The night before Uniqlo Tate Late, campaigners project a series of messages to UNIQLO CEO, Tadashi Yanai, demanding that the Japanese fast fashion chain takes responsibility for 2000 workers, collectively owed $5.5 million in unpaid wages and severance payments.
100 days until current Accord ends – labour signatories urge brands to sign onto 2018 Accord
With 100 days until the current Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety expires, garment companies are urged to continue their involvement to create a safe and sustainable garment industry in Bangladesh and to sign its successor, the 2018 Transition Accord.
Global Unions, International Human Rights and Workers’ Rights Organizations Call for End to Politically Motivated Prosecution of Tola Moeun
Four global unions and more than 30 national and international human rights and worker rights NGOs from around the world have joined together to call for an end to the politically motivated prosecution of Cambodian human rights defender Tola Moeun.
#GoTransparent campaign win: Primark publishes factory locations
This week low-cost retailer Primark published an overview of its production locations, after being presented with close to 70,000 signatures on a petition calling upon the company to do so. Over the last month, activists presented Primarks in different cities with gift-wrapped golden boxes with signatures, suggesting that Primark add transparency to its new years' resolutions. Clean Clothes Campaign is delighted that Primark now has responded to this demand.
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.
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.
Despite massive profits, big fashion brands refuse to pay workers after factory closures
Starting 14 December, garment workers and activists unite in global actions against wage theft. Over the next week, while holiday shoppers across the world peruse apparel stores, they may also discover messages from garment workers seeking help. The message to consumers reads: "I made the item you are about to buy but I didn´t get paid for making it".
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.
Clean Clothes Campaign statement on five years anniversary of Tazreen Fashions fire
Five years ago today, the Tazreen Fashions factory in Bangladesh went up in flames. Over 112 workers died, trapped in their workplace. Many more sustained injuries for life. On this day, our thoughts are with the survivors and the families of those workers that lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Bangladesh Safety Accord will continue safety work after 2018; Brands sourcing from Bangladesh should sign on
The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh will continue its coordination of brands’ due diligence obligations after 2018. This was reconfirmed unequivocally over the last few weeks by the Accord’s signatories, secretariat and witness signatories, after earlier ambiguous statements in the press about an early retreat from Bangladesh. Clean Clothes Campaign, as one of the four witness signatories, whole-heartedly continues to support the Accord’s work to manage brand due diligence in the field of safety. CCC urges all brands that have not signed onto the new Accord yet to commit themselves as soon as possible to this follow-up agreement as part and parcel of their international human rights obligations within their supply chain.
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.
Pressure grows on Uniqlo CEO to fulfill debt owed to workers
Today, a global coalition consisting of labour activists and campaigners throughout Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, and the U.S., joined garment workers in Indonesia, renewing calls on Uniqlo CEO Tadashi Yanai to fulfill the debt owed to workers after the Jaba Garmindo garment factory suddenly closed in 2015.
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.
Four years since Aswad fire compensation by brands can no longer wait
Today four years ago, a fire broke out in the Aswad Composite Mills textile mill in Bangladesh, killing at least seven workers and injuring over fifty. Happening six months after the deadly Rana Plaza collapse, this tragedy never received much attention, and four years on, the families and survivors still remain without full and fair compensation. On this day, our thoughts are with the families that suffered losses. Clean Clothes Campaign urges the brands that were sourcing from the factory, including H&M, C&A and Primark, to ensure that these families finally receive the compensation that they should have been provided with so many years ago.
Brands must speak out about violations in Cambodia
Labour rights organizations are deeply concerned about the closing of democratic and civil society space in Cambodia. This trend has recently escalated with alarming high-profile incidents of repression against political leaders, non-governmental organizations, and independent media. Clean Clothes Campaign, Worker Rights Consortium, and International Labor Rights Forum are calling on multinational apparel companies sourcing from Cambodia to take a stand against this repression, and to urge the Cambodian government to respect human rights and labour rights.
Top global sports brands adidas and Mizuno shamefully defy international standards on workers’ rights in Indonesia
Clean Clothes Campaign issues the following statement in response to the refusal of adidas and Mizuno to pay what is owed to workers who made their shoes in Indonesia: