Dear {subtag:name},
Dear friends of FEMNET,

There is a state of health emergency worldwide. The coronavirus pandemic mainly affects women in precarious employment, with long-term effects. This week marks the anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse, when 1,138 people died seven years ago. More than 2000 injured still suffer today from the serious consequences... And just because we're home, we don't stay silent.

We cordially invite you to join our Promotions and webinars to participate. FEMNET's partner organisations have also been highly engaged for weeks to help textile workers through the crisis. On April 24, at the Rana Plaza Memorial Day, they will give a live situation report from their countries at 10 a.m. and tell you how they are now supporting the seamstresses. We thank you wholeheartedly for spreading our call, for your financial support, for your trust and loyalty.

And what's next? Much is still unclear. But now it is even more important to demand sustainable and equitable production methods, for example through a supply chain law. For students we have put together a pool of ideas with actions, for schools there is a new workshop on clothing & climate, for smaller municipalities we have published a new handbook on fair procurement. Together with you, we remain active. #SolidarityWorks!

Wishing you an interesting read

the FEMNET Team

Early 2020: Factory workers in Bangladesh on their way to work. © Taslima Akter

Dramatic impact of Covid-19 on global supply chains

Globally, supply chains are collapsing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the entire textile industry is feeling the effects. The fast fashion chains, which change their range every 4-6 weeks and buy huge quantities, are particularly affected by the local shop closures. Now they are sitting on the spring collection. Discount battles are to be presumed upon reopening.

Many companies pass this pressure on to their suppliers: You cancel orders, no longer accept ordered goods or trade discounts. Others try to agree with their producers on a division of burdens. In addition to the sometimes catastrophic health care, the economic effects of the pandemic have extremely far-reaching consequences for workers. Many seamstresses face acute threats to their existence in the absence of wages.

• Webinar on April 24, 2020:
  Mary Viyakula (SAVE), Deepika Rao (Cividep) and Kalpona Akter (BCWS) report on the current situation in India and Bangladesh and their struggle for the seamstresses and their families. Together with Dr. Gisela Burckhardt from FEMNET, they discuss what helps workers in this difficult situation and what responsibility German companies should bear for it. (Webinar in English, 24.4.2020, 10 a.m.)
• Background articles & further links:
  Textile factories stand still – how do companies react? What impact does the crisis have on textile workers?
• FEMNET's appeal to companies:
  Solidarity with the seamstresses in times of the coronavirus pandemic (25 March 2020)

Food distribution to migrant workers on 31 March 2020. © SAVE

Corona Emergency Fund: Quick help for seamstresses in India and Bangladesh

In the face of factory closures, wage losses, rising food prices and strict curfews, the situation for precariously employed textile workers is becoming increasingly severe. FEMNET calls for solidarity with the seamstresses. The virus must not hit hardest those who have the least resources to protect themselves from the effects. With a donation to the Corona Emergency Fund You can support the work of civil society actors in India and Bangladesh. Already with 20 euros in Tamil Nadu in the south of India, a family of four can receive 14 days of flour, potatoes, cooking oil and water. Hygiene products, rental subsidies and means of communication are also urgently needed.

Why we need a supply chain law

“The coronavirus crisis currently dominates everything. As the news rolls over, we have to learn how to deal with the new situation in our personal everyday lives. (...) For us it is clear: We remain committed to a world where businesses respect human rights and avoid environmental degradation." (Statement of the Supply Chain Act Initiative, supported by FEMNET, on 18 March 2020)

At the beginning of March, Merkel and Altmeier stopped the push for a Supply Chain Act. What this means explains to you the Initiative Online.

The NGO SAVE opens the 2. MSI conference in Coimbatore, India. © FEMNET

News from the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles

Progress of the Tamil Nadu Alliance Initiative

In Coimbatore, the 2nd Annual conference of the Indian Multi-Stakeholder Initiative (MSI) Tamil Nadu, initiated by FEMNET as part of the Textile Alliance. Around 140 stakeholders came together for the dialogue: Representatives from politics and business – in particular the numerous spinning mills in Tamil Nadu – as well as employees of NGOs, trade unions, business associations and (inter)national organisations. FEMNET was also present. Through the cooperation with the Indian MSI, the German Textile Alliance wants to contribute to the improvement of working conditions in Tamil Nadu. The last 1.5 years have brought important progress. We hope to see the continuation of the Tamil Nadu alliance initiative.

The report on the conference...

Effects of Corona on the Textile Alliance

At the end of March 2020, the Steering Committee of the Textile Alliance decided to suspend the current activities to a large extent, which was also agreed by civil society representatives. However, civil society in the Textile Alliance urges companies to take responsibility for the fatal impact of COVID-19 on workers in their supply chains.

To the press release of the civil society in the Textile Alliance of 1 April 2020...

Also works in case of contact ban: Print posters, banners, t-shirts or similar with the template. © FEMNET

Rana Plaza Memorial Day & Fashion Revolution Week - online & on your doorstep!

On April 24, 2013, 1,138 people died in the collapse of Rana Plaza. Nevertheless, textile workers worldwide must continue to fight day after day for decent working conditions. The coronavirus pandemic exacerbates these grievances even more in many places. The Clean Clothes Campaign, FEMNET and many others want to remind this week of the deceased and bereaved of Rana Plaza and draw attention to the ongoing problems in the fashion industry.

In our webinars, for example, we inform you about women's rights and violence in the clothing industry (22.4., 5 pm), we bring you into contact with our partners in India and Bangladesh for a first-hand report (24.4., 10 am) and discuss the impact of Corona on the textile industry (24.4., 2 pm). You are cordially invited to participate in the actions and webinars during the Commemoration Week, to show solidarity, to inform and to make your own signs! To the webinar program...

#Never againRanaPlaza! To the action instructions with stencil...

New: Pool of ideas – active for fair fashion at the university

With our new education project, we will be offering support to student initiatives and sustainability working groups that want to promote a fairer fashion industry from 2020. First of all, we wanted to know about students: What do you want from such cooperation? Where do you see support needs and challenges? The feedback was as follows: First, we need inspiration. On this basis, the new FEMNET idea pool for students was created:
femnet.de/ideenpool

In order to receive support in the practical implementation of projects and actions, interested groups can apply by e-mail. We continue to support university teaching and school teaching with workshops & lectures:
Request FEMNET-Referent...

Climate killer clothes. © Rabe - pixabay.com

School workshops on the climate impacts of the global apparel industry

Eight percent of all greenhouse gases are caused by the global clothing industry. That's more than producing planes and cruise ships together. But while we are talking about flying shame and abstaining from meat, the climate killer textiles is far from being so well known. To change this, FEMNET offers a new workshop module for schools that discusses the climate impacts of the textile industry and looks together for ways to reduce the ecological footprint of our clothing.

Our workshops are conducted by trained speakers of Global Learning. The time frame should be at least 90 minutes, it makes sense to have 180 minutes or more. Please feel free to contact us regarding the right offer for you.

All information about the school workshops...