garment workers news and archive

Oxfam poll: Australian consumers want fashion brands to pay workers living wage

According to a recent poll by charity retailer Oxfam Australia, consumers do not trust the claims that Australian fashion brands are making in regards to the treatment of overseas garment workers in their supply chains. This comes as no surprise with the industry recording a staggering two billion dollars in expected profits on one hand and...

People

US government urges Bangladesh to reconsider minimum wage increase

The United States has urged Bangladesh to reconsider its recent decision on the minimum wage and ensure the protection of workers' rights following the death of a woman during garment labour protests. A government-appointed panel increased factory wages by 56.25 percent to 12,500 taka ( approximately 113 dollars) per month, but striking workers...

Business

What the new minimum wage means for garment workers in Bangladesh

On Tuesday, 8 November 2023, the Bangladeshi government announced the new minimum wage for garment workers: from December, they will receive 12,500 taka (around 114 US dollars) instead of the previous 8,000 taka (68 US dollars). At first glance, the increase seems to be okay, as it is up by 56 percent. However, if one compares the monthly...

Business

Why Bangladesh’s minimum wage demand of 23,000 taka is justified

Bangladesh has been in the news recently — minimum wage discussions have turned sour with enraged garment workers taking to the streets for the second week. Two workers have died and sentiments are flaring up on both sides. What is the issue? While garment workers and their unions demand a minimum wage of 23,000 Bangladeshi taka (around 209 US...

Business

Two garment workers die in latest Bangladesh minimum wage protests

With a minimum wage of only 75 US dollars (8,300 Bangladeshi taka) per month, Bangladesh has one of the lowest wages among countries that make readymade garments (RMGs). The debate about raising the minimum to what would be more of a living wage has reached a boiling point, with tens of thousands of garment workers clashing with police in...

Fashion

H&M says it will ‘phase out’ sourcing from Myanmar suppliers

H&M has decided to cease its garment production in Myanmar amid concerns about labour abuses in its supplier factories. The company announced its intention to gradually phase out operations in the country, following the lead of other retailers like Inditex, Primark, and M&S, which have also disengaged due to ongoing reports of mistreatment....

People

A Bangladeshi garment union leader was killed after a pay dispute

Bangladeshi garment workers face a distressing reality as a trade union leader was tragically beaten to death while attempting to resolve a pay dispute. Shahidul Islam Shahid, a prominent figure associated with the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation (BGIWF), fell victim to this heinous act following a meeting at the Prince...

BusinessFeatured

European Parliament approves draft law to improve environmental, social practices of supply chains

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a draft law to ensure large companies crack down on suppliers not following certain rules in terms of their social and environmental practices. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) addresses areas including child labour, slavery, labour exploitation, pollution, environmental...

BusinessFeatured

Rana Plaza - ten years later

How many times have we rolled our eyes when there was an emergency drill, maybe at school, work or college? Happening at the most inopportune times (just like a real emergency) - we may get up grudgingly, follow a dedicated co-worker or fellow student to an emergency meeting point and from there to the nearest exit. Grumbling about the...

Fashion Featured

American garment workers paid as little as 1.58 dollars per hour

American garment workers are paid as little as 1.58 dollars per hour, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Labor. A survey of Southern California garment-sewing contractors and manufacturers has found workers making garments sold by many of the nation’s leading fashion retailers often continue to be victims of wage theft and...

Business

Pakistan finally announces International Accord workplace safety program

After a decade-long push towards safer garment factory in Pakistan, the International Accord was finally announced on Wednesday, cheered on by 187 brand signatories, Pakistani unions and NGO witness signatories. The new agreement is modelled on the Bangladesh Accord, which was signed after the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse. “After years of...

Business |BACKGROUND Featured

A visit to one of Bangladesh’s green garment factories

Once considered a cheap sourcing location with unsafe factories by some international buyers, Bangladesh has come a long way in just ten short years: After the deadly fire at Tazreen Fashions in 2012 and the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in 2013, Bangladesh sourcing seemed at an all-time low, its reputation tarnished as a manufacturing...