Vietnam Country Study – Labour Standards in the Garment Supply Chain Garment and textile is the second biggest exporting industry in Vietnam, after electronics, accounting for 15 percent of the country’s GDP and 14 percent of its total exports in 2015. The United States is the biggest market for garments from Vietnam while Japan and the European Union EU come second and third respectively. Mehr Details
Country profile : Poland The country profile gives an overview of the clothing industry in Poland. It deals with the historical development of the clothing industry as well as labour rights violations. In particular, wages and trade union organisation are discussed on the basis of interviews with workers. Case studies are described and demands are formulated to improve the situation. Mehr Details
Industry-Specific Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives That Govern Corporate Human Rights Standards: Legitimacy assessments of the Fair Labor Association and the Global Network Initiative Multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) are widely used as a default mechanism to address human rights challenges in a variety of industries. MSI is a designation that covers a broad range of initiatives from best-practice sharing learning platforms (e.g., the UN Global Compact) to certification bodies (e.g., the Forest Stewardship Council) and those targeted at addressing governance gaps (e.g., the Fair Labor Association). Critics contest the legitimacy of the private governance model offered by MSIs. The objective of this paper is (1) to theoretically develop a typology of MSIs, and (2) to empirically analyze the legitimacy of one specific type of MSI, according to industry-specific MSIs. We argue that industry-specific MSIs that set out to govern corporate behavior have great potential to develop legitimacy. We analyze two industry-specific MSIs—the Fair Labor Association and the Global Network Initiative—to get a better understanding of how these MSIs formed, how they define and enforce standards, and how they seek to ensure accountability. Based on these empirical illustrations, we discuss the value of this specific MSI model and draw implications for the democratic legitimacy of private governance mechanisms. Mehr Details
Women in Ethiopia's clothing industry - FEMNET Factsheet Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. The textile and clothing industry plays a central role and is promoted and subsidized by the government. Although the country has relatively strict labour legislation, workers suffer from precarious working conditions. Depending on the country, 60%-90% of workers are female. Men mainly work in supervisory and managerial positions, they give instructions, exert pressure and some do not shy away from violent behavior. Violence against women has not been and is not perceived as a problem in Ethiopia. The Labour Act does not contain any statement about a work environment that protects against sexual harassment or gender-based violence. Mehr Details
Evaluation of H&M Compliance with Safety Action Plans for Strategic Suppliers in Bangladesh The following report evaluates and analyzes publicly available information regarding the level of progress H&M has achieved in addressing safety hazards in its factories in Bangladesh. The data is derived from factory inspection reports and Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) publicly disclosed by the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh and posted on the organization’s website. Mehr Details
