FEMNET Newsletter No. 5 - August 2013 NEWSLETTER August 2013 Good day, Despite the summer holiday season, there is a lot going on at FEMNET e.V. Our CEO Gisela Burckhardt was in Bangladesh and India at the end of July/beginning of August. She visited our cooperation partners NGWF and Munnade. Read her report on developments related to the outstanding compensation payments for the victims of the Bangladesh factory disaster and the living conditions of young Indian women exploited by the Sumangali system. A round trip on this topic is planned for autumn. We wish you an informative read and some sunny summer weeks! The FEMNET team! Contents: Current events and news from Bangladesh and India FairSchnitt: Project information Soli fundNews FEMNET publications appointments Reference to membership and donations Disclaimer Current events and news from Bangladesh and India Compensation payments for the victims in Bangladesh are still waiting / Criticism of the fire protection agreement Three and a half months after the collapse of the Rana Plaza high-rise with five factories and 1127 dead and over 1600 injured survivors, there is still no compensation from most companies. Only Primark has responded and paid over 3,300 people compensation of 15,000 Taka (150,- EUR). Compensation negotiations between trade unions and companies should finally begin in September. The compensation for Tazreen's victims is currently estimated at USD 5.7 million and for Rana Plaza's victims at USD 71 million (EUR 54 million). These sums should be borne by the companies/buyers to 45%, the rest will be divided between government, local business association and factory owners in Bangladesh. The agreement on building and fire protection in Bangladesh has now been signed by around 80 companies. The chord is based on the ILO Tripartite Statement. The EU and the US support the chord. Although the agreement is generally welcomed by our partners in Bangladesh, there are still criticisms. More information... The Hero of Rana Plaza Gisela Burckhardt, CEO of FEMNET, visited Bangladesh in July and was able to attend a meeting of the NGWF trade union in Dhaka on 24 July 2013 and conduct interviews with the relatives of orphans. Read here the reports of individual victims and the ‘hero’ of Rana Plaza who saved 34 people. Detailed information... Sumangali = Exploitation in spinning mills in India During her visit to Tamil Nadu, Gisela Burckhardt interviewed several girls aged 15-17 about their life situation in the so-called Sumangali system. The young women worked in the shift system in Indian spinning mills and receive only an extremely low wage and the promise after 3-4 years of work to receive a fixed sum of 30-40,000 rupees (394,- EUR - 533,- EUR) with which they could pay their dowry. Twelve of the girls are housed in a hostel on the factory premises, where they are imprisoned like slaves. You can't leave the factory. After three years, if they last that long, they have earned a total of around EUR 970. If they were paid according to the Indian minimum wage, you would actually be entitled to 2446,- EUR. The story of Tamil Nadu... FairSchnitt: Project information Lecture tour on the Sumangali system in autumn in Germany The preparation of the lecture tour by two Indian women about the exploitation in the spinning mills in Tamil Nadu (Sumangali) and in the sewing factories in Bangalore is in full swing. In the period from 18.11. to 02.12.2013 Maheswari (photo on the left) from the non-governmental organization READ and Anitha (photo on the right) from Munnade will travel through Germany. They will report on working conditions in India at universities and public events. They are likely to occur in the following cities: Bonn, Cologne, Frankfurt, Mainz, Würzburg, Berlin, Hamburg, Rellingen, Bremen, Oldenburg, in addition to at least seven universities. We look forward to a lively participation in the events. Second multiplier workshop planned At the end of September, the second workshop for multipliers will take place in Bonn. Participants from all over Germany come to Bonn for the two-day event. As in the first workshop, three modules will be presented and played through. The three modules are created by experts on behalf of FEMNET. FairSchnitt then offers these modules to universities as educational units. Read the report on 1. Workshop... Expanded material database On the FairSchnitt website you will find a regularly updated database, which contains literature, film and exhibition information about new releases in the field of social standards, corporate responsibility, green fashion, etc. How to invite you to a visit, see for yourself... Soli fund news Bangladesh: Handover of donations to NGWF Due to your numerous donations to the NGWF in the FEMNET Solidarity Fund, FEMNET was able to transfer EUR 5,000 to the union in July. A first payment was made to 150 people (2,500 Taka = 25,- EUR/person) in the presence of Gisela Burckhardt in Dhaka. It was mainly a support for the injured of Rana Plaza and Tazreen as well as orphans of Rana Plaza. In addition, FEMNET continues to support NGWF's Legal Aid Fund. To the report on the NGWF visit.... Visit to our project partner Munnade Munnade conducted a ‘legal aid camp’ in a working-class district in Bangalore, where Gisela Burckhardt was able to participate when she was in India in August. FEMNET supports Munnade's work in particular in providing legal advice to women on work problems as well as in the personal sphere. Report on the visit to Munnade... FEMNET publications Eco-Fair Clothing Shopping Guide in Bonn For several months now, a group of interested parties has been meeting in Bonn to create an eco-fair purchasing guide, which will be published at the end of 2013. The clothing stores in Bonn and the surrounding area are currently being asked whether and which eco-fair dresses they have in their range. This is intended to provide an incentive for more businesses to take advantage of customers' interest in fair clothing. The guide will be presented at a larger event with a supporting program together with the city of Bonn. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. New flyers for public relations published Femnet e.V. has had three new self-expression folders printed. The general information on the FEMNET association and a portrait of the FairSchnitt project and the Solidarity Fund are now available. We are looking forward to receiving (large) orders for the leaflets in order to support our public relations work. You can also download the flyers here: Post from India: Impressions from working at CIVIDEP and Munnade Theresa Utecht studies textile and clothing management at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences. FEMNET e.V. has established contact with the two Indian organizations with which we also cooperate within the framework of the Solidarity Fund. Theresa completed her internship in India for six months and described her impressions and experiences to us. Read their blog posts on the FEMNET homepage. appointments 06.09.2013 from 2.45 p.m. to 3.45 p.m. in Dortmund Gisela Burckhardt's participation in the Expert Forum on ‘CSR in the clothing sector – more than social washing?!’ as part of the Fair Fair in Dortmund 14.09.2013, 6 pm in Bonn Lecture by Gisela Burckhardt " Global advocacy for women's rightsim Ladencafe Frohsius in Bonn-Duisdorf. 16.09.2013 7 p.m. in Bonn Film screening ‘The Blue Jeans Prize’ followed by a panel discussion with Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET e.V., Barbara Küppers, terre des hommes e.V., Annette Hoffman, Owner of ‘Alma & Lovis’, Maren Sartory, FairTrade Germany. An event the Bonn Network for Development, Justice, Responsibility, Future. 19.09.2013 7.30 pm in Ravensburg Presentation by Gisela Burckhardt on "Clothes cost people" the Museum Humpis Quartier in Ravensburg. Event by FEMNET e.V. 25.9.2013 from 6.30 p.m. in BonnFashion show and panel discussion "Clothing in the name of profit? There is another way - Eco-fair clothing shops from Cologne/Bonn introduce themselves" one Cooperation event between FEMNET e.V. and ver.di during the fair week in BonnInvitation to events (PDF download) 30.09.2013 in EssenParticipation of Gisela Burckhardt in a discussion event organised by bezev, Ein Welt Forum Essen and VENRO/DSGA on the topic of 'Decent Work' 16.11.2013 from 9.30 a.m. in LudwigshafenPresentation by Anna Hoff, Boardwoman of FEMNET e.V., on the topic of fair clothing including fashion show with fair traded and recycled clothing and women's breakfast with fair traded products in the parish center St. Hedwig, Ludiwigsburg FEMNET e.V. wants to grow! Therefore, we would like to draw your attention to the possibility of association membership. We would be delighted if you would support our activities as an active member (reserved to women) or as a supporting member! But even if you do not want to become a member, you can support our work: Simply donate any amount of money to our association account: GLS Bank, Bank Code: 43060967, Account No 300800800. FEMNET e.V. is a non-profit association that may issue donation certificates for donations received and membership fees that are tax-reducing. These will be shipped in the first quarter of the following year.Declaration of Accession (PDF file)Further donation information... Disclaimer FEMNET e.V.Feminist Perspectives on Politics, Economy and SocietyHeidebergenstr. 1453229 BonnTel. +49 (0)228-94499682This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Board of Directors: Dr. Gisela Burckhardt, Ines Holthaus, Anna HoffEditorial team: Dr Gisela Burckhardt, Ines Holthaus Responsible within the meaning of § 5 TMG: Dr. Gisela Burckhardt Disclaimer: Despite careful content control, we assume no liability.File number VR 9568B at the District Court of Bonn. back
