Green meadow, some garbage heaps – on the site of the former Rana Plaza building, there is almost nothing reminiscent of the tragic collapse. Photo: © FEMNET

Green meadow, some garbage heaps – on the site of the former Rana Plaza building, there is almost nothing reminiscent of the tragic collapse. Photo: © FEMNET

Rana Plaza Remembrance Day on 24 April – Make a mark for fair work!

On April 24, 2013, the most serious factory accident in the textile industry occurred. Since then, Rana Plaza has stood for more than 1,100 people who died in the building collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It represents thousands more victims and survivors. But Rana Plaza also reminds us of the poor working conditions, which have hardly improved since then.

Textile workers protest the dismissals, arrests and trials. Photo: © NGWF

Textile workers protest the dismissals, arrests and trials. Photo: © NGWF
Bangladesh:

Dismissed workers on a blacklist – and were dismissed. Their names are now on a blacklist, so they can't find work anywhere else. More than 3,000 workers have been charged, and more than 11,000 workers from 105 factories have lost their jobs since January 2019. Innocent people are criminalized, under false accusations, especially against trade unionists strikingly many arrest warrants are issued. The security situation has improved since the Rana Plaza collapse in terms of building and fire safety in some factories, but working conditions remain poor:

, to support the affected workers in the financing of bail, legal fees, etc.! Workers protest for the rightful payment of their wages You want to help?Donate for it

Accord logo

ACCORD: Supreme Court postpones its decision again

Since November 2018, the decision of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has been repeatedly postponed at monthly intervals. So also on 15 April 2019. Supposedly, it is now to be decided on May 19 whether the Accord, the building and fire protection agreement that has provided for around 1600 safe export factories, can remain in the country.

The government wants to get rid of the independent inspectors and claims to be able to carry out the factory inspections itself. However, this is questioned by both international buyers and the Clean Clothes Campaign.

For example, since its entry into force, the Accord has excluded 114 factories from its program for safety reasons, but half of these factories simply continue to operate under the government's inspection program, according to a recent study by the CCC. The government's inspection programs are not yet trustworthy. This assessment is also shared by many international buyers.
Statement of the Clean Clothes Campaign:

Government of Bangladesh not ready to take over Accord’s safety work
Open letter from ACCORD to the Government of Bangladesh:

Become active

New flyer with action ideas for school and leisure

Cover of the leaflet Get Active

• (PDF file) Our leaflet presents students with ideas on how to become active alone, with the class or together with friends. In addition, as a shopping aid, we briefly explain the most important seals, how seals work and where you can find more shopping guides and information on fair clothing online.
• (PDF file) Handout to Folder in A6

Self-printing in A4

Photo: © FEMNET ⁇ Ben Böhm

In the four-minute video, Khin Nilar Soe explains the special situation in Myanmar. The video is suitable for use in school lessons or seminars. Photo: © FEMNET ⁇ Ben Böhm

New video: The Emerging Clothing Industry in Myanmar

The global clothing industry is booming! Since 2000, it has more than doubled. Around one hundred billion garments are produced each year, most of them in China, Bangladesh, Turkey and India. A relatively new production site is Myanmar. Since the end of the military dictatorship, the country has experienced rapid economic growth. Especially in the textile industry. Today, there are about 700 factories, mostly owned by Chinese or other foreign owners, and employ around 600,000 workers. Khin Nilar Soe, Deputy Secretary General of the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar, visited us during the Speakers Tour 2018. In the video she talks about the everyday life of the seamstresses and the demands of the trade unions. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Seamstresses in a Tunisian factory. Photo © FEMNET.

Seamstresses in a Tunisian factory. Photo: © FEMNET.

Travel report from Tunisia: Working conditions in the production of workwear

In order to convince local buyers and decision-makers in public administrations even more successfully how useful it is to switch to sustainable procurement procedures, FEMNET is preparing a study in cooperation with partner organisations in India and Tunisia. Tell the two of you about your impressions: There was an exciting exchange with the new cooperation partner FTDES, they talked to dismissed seamstresses, visited a factory and learned a lot about differences and similarities compared to other production regions. FEMNET speakers Anni Korts-Laur and Katharina Edinger were on site in November 2018 to talk to partners and stakeholders and launch the study. In their

travelogue , where we will present the first results of our study and our offers on fair public procurement on 27 April 2019.Visit us at the

NEWS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM

Welcome to FEMNET, Theresa Utecht!

Theresa Utecht

How did you come up with fair clothing?

At the Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, I came into contact with the "other side" of the fashion industry for the first time at a FEMNET educational event – this never let me go and led me to an internship at Cividep in India in 2013. Ever since I was confronted with the global impact of our consumption, this has accompanied my personal and professional decisions.

What motivates you?

My awareness of the responsibility I carry as a fellow human being in an increasingly globalized world. I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work at FEMNET on educational work on sustainable development here in Germany and on cooperation projects abroad.

Impression of the Rana Plaza action 2017. Photo © Jill Ziemer

Impression of the Rana Plaza action 2017. Photo: © Jill Ziemer

FairQuatschen - open meeting in Bonn and from May also in Cologne

Did you know that there is an open meeting in Bonn around the topics of fashion and human rights?

‘FairQuatschen’ meets regularly on the first Wednesday of the month. The volunteer group seeks the open exchange on (un)fair clothing and how we can bring the topic to the streets, makes joint excursions to shops or exhibitions and other places.

There are content impulses from FEMNET e.V. and the Clean Clothes Campaign Germany (CCC). As part of the CCC network, this group is one of around ten regional groups in Germany.
Also in Cologne many interested people have contacted us again and again, which is why we now want to team up with motivated people there: A first meeting will take place on 9 May 2019.

TIPS & TERMINE

24.04.2019: Rana Plaza Memorial Day (actions in Bonn & nationwide) .24.04.2019: Workshops/lectures by FEMNET speakers (e.g. in Lüneburg, Darmstadt) as part of the Rana Plaza Memorial Day. Maybe even near you?

The schedule is constantly updated (Cologne): FEMNET rides along and does a participatory action #against violence against women.27.04.2019: Fair fashion bike tour , connected.

Fashion revolution demo (Stuttgart) 27.04.2019: FEMNET stand at the

Fair trade fair 09.05.2019:

1. Open meeting 'FairQuatschen' in Cologne

18.05.2019: FEMNET General Assembly (Bonn) (Cologne and elsewhere) 19.05.2019:

Big demo #1EuropeFor All for consulting and lobbying 24.-25.05.2019:

Intensive training on fair public procurement 05.06.2019:

Open meeting 'FairQuatschen' in Bonn FEMNET at the stand of the Foundation for Environment and Development (Dortmund) 20.06.2019:

Ev. Church day: for consulting and lobbying 25.-26.10.2019:

FEMNET IN THE MEDIA“ Blog post by Gisela Burckhardt (FEMNET) and Carolijn Terwindt (ECCHR). In: Business and Human Rights Resource Centre04.02.2019: ‘

Social audits in the textile industry: How to control inspectors?Rellinger women donate to FEMNET. In: Pinneberg daily newspaper 18.02.2019: ‘

Fight against injustice.’ .’ In: Pinneberg daily newspaper18.02.2019: ‘

Willingness to donate at the Rellinger women's clothing market is unbrokenSustainable economy forum28.02.2019: ‘ “ Article by Marijke Mulder (FEMNET). In:

Anyone who buys has an influence on the market. If you buy a lot, you also have a lot of influence.“ In: our-voice-online.de04.03.2019: ‘

Shows more commitment to living wages!“ Statement by Gisela Burckhardt. In: Fairtrade Germany07.03.2019: ‘

Strengthen women! Women Ambassadors for the Gender Special 2019“ Short presentation of FEMNET. In: goodjobs.eu08.03.2019: ‘

Stand up for women's rights worldwide - at these 7 GoodCompanies!“ with an assessment by Gisela Burckhardt. In: Taz12.04.2019: ‘

New seal for fair clothing. Green button meets with skepticism“ on FEMNET workshops in Fairtrade Towns on fair public procurement. In: RP Online13.04.2019: ‘

SUPPORT FEMNET Can you? Your support makes our work possible – thank you very much to everyone who is already there! Psst... Did you know that at FEMNET you also

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