Dear friends of FEMNET,

is currently available on Spiegel-Online Interview with the well-known labour rights activist Kalpona Akter She is the head of our partner club BCWS in Bangladesh. Your clear statement on the situation in Bangladesh: A lot still needs to happen for wages to live and for trade unions to work freely. But the international attention created after Rana Plaza helps to improve the situation on the ground. FEMNET supports Kalpona Akter and her association BCWS, as well as local trade unions in Bangladesh and India, so that the seamstresses can claim their rights.

Dear readers, many of you are also donors and we would like to thank you very much for the trust placed in us at the end of the year. Thanks to your help, we can provide valuable support to our partners. If you are looking for a special Christmas present: With one Donation instead of gifts enable effective, solidarity-based work for strong women and fair work. #SolidarityWorks!

Wishing you a Merry Christmas

The FEMNET team

Social audits: Fig leaf of the fashion industry

For decades, working conditions in supplier factories have been monitored through so-called social audits. Their results are obtained by the factories, which even often pay for the inspection themselves, as well as the buyers. As a rule, the reports are not disclosed to employees, trade unions and NGOs, so they cannot object to security deficiencies and human rights violations. Instead of workers, the audit industry protects the image of its customers - fashion companies. Improving the system requires greater transparency, accountability and effective involvement of trade unions and workers.

The Clean Clothes Campaign’s ‘Fig Leaf for Fashion’ report now has a clear summary in German, translated by FEMNET (‘Fig leaf of the fashion industry: How social audits protect companies and leave workers in the lurch“). Case studies are used to explain the shortcomings of social audits and their causes and to show how they can be remedied. It contains recommendations to companies, politicians and other stakeholders.

The weaknesses of the audit system at a glance...

Protest march of the Bangladeshi union Green Bangla Garments Workers on 24.11.2019. © GBGW

Protests in Bangladesh 7 years after fire in Tazreen factory

On 24 November Bangladeshi trade unions took to the streets and demanded a safe workplace for textile workers. They commemorated the fire that broke out at the Tazreen factory at 6:30 p.m. on November 24, 2012. 600 of the more than 1000 workers were still in the factory. 125 people died and 150 were injured. The nine-storey building had been illegally increased by 3 floors, there were no emergency exits and fire ladders, the windows were barred. Effective controls? Misrepresentation.

German buyers also placed their orders with the tuba group, which includes the Tazreen factory, including KiK (until 2011), Karl Rieker and Lidl. C&A also produced there. Most companies, with the exception of C&A, have not paid compensation to victims and survivors.

The protest report...

The CorA factsheet ‘Fire at the Tazreen factory. An example of the failure of voluntary action’ (PDF)

Protest at the Employers' Day in Berlin. © Initiative Supply Chain Act ⁇ Valere Schramm

#Concerning WithoutConscience: Actions for a Supply Chain Act

In the middle of the pre-Christmas shopping hustle and bustle, activists from FEMNET froze on the streets of Bonn on the day of the climate strike. As if on command, they dress in white overalls and pull shopping bags over their heads, followed by slogans such as ‘For more responsibility! For more human rights!’. On Black Friday bargain day, nationwide flash mobs and other Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) actions for a supply chain law took place.

FEMNET and other alliance members were also present at the Employers' Day on 12 November. There have been many speeches on ethics and future issues, but the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Employers' Association reject binding rules for fair global trade. With the action in Berlin, the activists protested against the cuddly course of politics.

The Supply Chain Act initiative is becoming more and more visible. 74 organizations now belong to the broad alliance, including FEMNET and CCC. The common goal: fair business practices worldwide. More than 85,000 people have already signed the petition ‘Mrs Merkel, we finally need a supply chain law!’.

First thoughts of the initiative on what a supply chain law should look like... (PDF)

Sign the petition now...

Action photo #against violence of the FEMNET team as of 25.11.2019. © FEMNET

Requirements for the Day Against Violence against Women: ILO Convention 190: Preventing Violence in the Workplace

Since 1991, every year on 25 November, women's rights organisations call for a 16-day campaign against violence against women, which runs until the International Day of Human Rights (10 December). This year, the campaign focuses on the world of work – one of our core themes at FEMNET.

The ILO Convention 190 against Violence and Harassment in the World of Work was adopted by an overwhelming majority in June 2019. A historic victory for working women worldwide! But this was only the first step: FEMNET, together with women's and labour rights organizations worldwide, calls on the UN member states, and in particular the German government, to ratify the ILO Convention 190 in a timely manner and implement its recommendations. Businesses and trade unions can even address the measures contained therein before ratification.

To the full report...

Seamstresses demand their right to a non-violent working environment. © BCWS

Annual theme 2020 in the Textile Alliance: Gender-based violence in the workplace

The Alliance for Sustainable Textiles makes gender-based violence in the workplace the new annual theme for 2020. FEMNET has made itself strong for this, because an evaluation of the existing roadmaps (annual plans) of the member companies had shown that not a single manufacturer has taken explicit measures against women discrimination in its supply chain.

A group of experts will deal with how the problem can be addressed on several levels. For companies, this includes a risk analysis at their suppliers in order to develop suitable measures. Together with FEMNET and other NGOs, they could form a new alliance initiative in a country of production on gender-based violence. Finally, companies are also offered webinars and information on the topic so that they can take action.

activists and urban workers ‘fairbunden’ in Bonn. © Hundred One

‘Good work fairbindet!’ New video on fair public procurement

What connects the urban gardener with the Tunisian seamstress? That's right: The work clothes. Here she protects women and men in their work, there the production of clothing is the work itself... Both are inextricably linked. In September, German administrative staff met a textile worker and an activist from Tunisia, including FEMNET's procurement experts - a special working day for everyone.

The experts from Tunisia make it impressively clear how urgent action is needed. And that fair awarding is a feasible undertaking even for smaller municipalities is confirmed by local administrative representatives. Guides and experience are available at FEMNET and other organizations. With fair procurement, you can create worldwide fairBindings!

Use the new video free of charge to convince your environment of fair procurement. Please do not hesitate to inform us about your application: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Factsheets on working conditions in the workwear industry...

Looking back at the Speakers Tour...

With full enthusiasm for responsible public procurement. © FEMNET

Purchasing "on the button" - Up-to-date training for multipliers

Under what conditions is workwear made? What are the new public procurement directives? And how do companies view fair workwear? With questions like these, we put public procurement back on the button during our multiplier training in October 2019.

On two days, there was professional input for the participants and enough space for exchange. Because we also find this again and again: Fair procurement is best achieved in conjunction with others if you can share experiences and learn from each other.

On request, we can provide you with nationwide trained multipliers for your event.

Detailed review of the training...

FEMNET employees with Sybille Becker (centre), Chairwoman of the Bonn Donation Parliament. © FEMNET

Climate & Clothing - All of us for Future

Climate protection concerns us all! That's why FEMNET wants to become even more active in Bonn in the future. We would like to thank the Bonn Donation Parliament, which in November 2019 decided by a majority to support our project on the climate impact of global clothing consumption.

We are already addressing the climate-damaging effects of the fashion industry and supporting the global climate strikes. In the future, we will increasingly carry out educational work at schools and public events in Bonn. From 2020, there will be new materials at FEMNET. In addition, we want to establish a strong network of Bonn initiatives that deal with the topic of climate and clothing.

To the report...

Thinking about tomorrow today:

Give a donation to FEMNET for Christmas.

Together we bring human rights into fashion!

14.10.2019: ‘Green Button - What is the state textile seal?“ Interview with Gisela Burckhardt. In: HR Television Defacto

28/10/2019Between Slavery and Purchasing“ Report on the Ev. Akademie Bad Boll, ceremonial address was given by Gisela Burckhardt. In: The Teckbote

November 2019: “Responsibility of companies in the textile value chain”. Article by Gisela Burckhardt on legal and voluntary measures. In: ‘Salzkörner’ magazine of the Central Committee of German Catholics.

November 2019: ‘Information tour through the eco-fair fashion world’ (print)
In: Bonner Umwelt newspaper

14.11.2019: “From global inequality to fair play?”
Event review on sustainability in sporting goods with Gisela Burckhardt at the German Sport University Cologne

15.11.2019: ‘A day dedicated to fair fashion’
about a FEMNET university seminar at EBC Hamburg

18.11.2019: ‘Poster exhibition in Ellwanger Rathaus criticises short-sighted consumer behaviour’ about the poster series of FEMNET.
In: The Swabian newspaper

29.11.2019: ‘The fight against the exploitation of women textile workers’
on the nomination of FEMNET for the Kettler Prize of the ZASS Foundation.
In: State newspaper of Thuringia
(Unfortunately, we did not receive the award, but sincerely congratulate the winner.)

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