The Facts Behind Fashion

Check out the facts behind your fashion by finding out more about the urgent appeals work done by the Clean Clothes Campaign. This review summarises cases from the garment industry around the world.

Find out about conditions in the factories where your clothes are made - and about how the Clean Clothes Campaign and its partners are working to stop violations of workers’ rights.

We are proud of the positive impact of our collective actions.

Towards a safe garment industry, with living wages and equal treatment!

Annual overview

Click here for the 2014 new cases and updates on still running cases from previous years and read the background article on the influence of trade agreements on labour conditions.

You'll find the overview of 2013 here, focusing on the collapse of the Rana Plaza building, the deadliest garment factory accident ever, the realisation of the historic Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, and highlighting the harsh struggle of Cambodian garment workers.

You'll find the overview of 2012 here, highlighting the remarkable victory of workers after the closure of the Indonesian Kizone factory and looking at the German discounter KiK and it's presence in the by devastating fires hit Pakistani Ali Enterprises factory and the Bangladeshi Tazreen Fashions factory.

Or view all 2014 cases in an overview with descriptions

Not all of the cases can be published on this page. We only publicise cases when local partners and the workers concerned agree to do so. In some cases, premature publicity might harm the vulnerable condition of workers or worsen their situation.

Cases can be very diverse; some involve just a few key players; others have potential impact on thousands or even millions of workers. Yet also the seemingly 'small' cases can be highly complex, and help assert critical rights of garment workers

What is an Urgent Appeal?

An urgent appeal is a rapid response to a request for support from workers in the garment industry whose rights are being infringed.

Since the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) was launched twenty-five years ago, Clean Clothes activists have supported garment and sportswear workers in almost 450 cases in about 40 different countries where their rights were violated.

Find out more on Urgent Appeals

Support labour rights through trade agreements?

Promoting respect for labour rights while boosting exports and trade from developing countries. It sounds like a good plan. But what exactly does this 'Generalised System of Preferences Plus' (GSP+) mean, and does it really work?

We look at the backgrounds, and interview labour activists who highlight what they would need to strengthen their rights.

Find out the background and the reality of trade agreements

Labour rights violations

The Clean Clothes Campaign believes that all workers have a right to good and safe working conditions, regardless of gender, age, country of origin, legal status, employment status or location, or any other ground.

Fundamental rights include the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining, and to earn a living wage that allows workers to live in dignity.

Read more about these labour rights violations and find some examples

Attacks on union organisers

Freedom of association is a fundamental human right. However, organising in trade unions remains hazardous, as the industry is steeped in a culture of impunity.

When the Rana Plaza disaster places the Bangladeshi garment industry in the world's spotlights, workers gained confidence; more factory unions were registered in the last year than ever. However, since March 2014 CCC partners report an increase in violence and harassment against union organisers. 

We take stock.

Window dressing in Bangladesh

EU Support

The work of the Clean Clothes Campaign is supported by the European Commission, through DG Developement and Co-operation - EuropeAid. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of the Clean Clothes Campaign and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the European Commission.