Buyer compensates fired unionists

published 03-10-2013 14:20, last modified 10-10-2013 14:12
At the Busana Prima Global factory, seven female workers were dismissed for their union work. They had visited the Bogor District Department for Manpower to discuss continuing violations of labour rights at their workplace. On the dismissal of the seven unionists, 37 co-workers went on strike. The factory management has not been willing to change its behaviour.

In early 2010, seven female workers of the Busana Prima Global factory in Bogor – Winni Mardalena, Wasriah, Jenny Lubis, Haryani, Meyani, Winarti and Kurbana Yastika – were dismissed because of their union work for the Shoe, Textile and Garment Labour Union. The workers filed a complaint with the Fair Wear Foundation.

The brand Jack Wolfskin, which is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation, was buying from Busana Prima Global. The situation did not improve after Jack Wolfskin repeatedly urged the factory to re-hire the workers and improve the conditions in the factory.
Jack Wolfskin subsequently decided to withdraw orders from Busana Prima Global. Throughout 2012, the fired workers were in a process of negotiation with Jack Wolfskin on compensation and skills training, resulting in an agreement on compensation in 2013.

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What do companies and Multi Stakeholder Initiaves think of the CCC? *

“CCC has been one of the defining influences on code of conduct over the last 10 years. Codes of conduct have moved from being a fringe idea to a central plank of single CSR policy in the industry. A large part of that is because CCC internationally have been a champion for the role of brands taking action... and have placed and kept the issue in the public domain.”

“CCC have had impact by raising our awareness, triggering the development of our code of conduct and our subsequent mechanisms on monitoring, disclosure practises, decision to join MSI, training and follow-up.”

“If there is a critical situation in a factory that we have not become aware of ourselves, we do of course react immediately, if this is brought to our attention by CCC.”

“All activities raise awareness but do not change policies, urgent appeals have most impact to improve or change the way of working with a supplier or improve a situation if needed.”

* Quotes from internal report that assesses how Clean Clothes Campaign's labour rights corporate accountability work, including the Urgent Appeal system, has impacted corporate behavior between 1994 and 2010.

Pins Brown, 2010. Impact Assessment of Corporate Accountability Activities of Clean Clothes Campaign. Unpublished report on file.