© Greyson Joralemon - unsplash.com Good advice: City of Mannheim strengthens fair procurement The City of Mannheim sets itself ambitious goals: With its mission statement 2030, it wants to focus on fair procurement. FEMNET accompanied the Mannheim city administration in 2018 and 2019 to launch this project. Details Published: 25 April 2020 Read more …
© Markus Spiske - unsplash.com Fair uniforms: Law and order in procurement Berlin and Brandenburg want to be fairer: In the future, the employees of the public service should wear sustainable service clothing. FEMNET is currently advising the Central Procurement Office for Brandenburg. This procures workwear bundled for both federal states. Details Published: 25 April 2020 Read more …
© Taslima Akter Textile factories stand still – how do companies react? The coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the entire textile industry, both here and in the producing countries. Many companies cancel orders, no longer accept ordered goods or trade discounts. Others try to agree with their producers on burden sharing. In Germany, all clothing stores are currently closed, manufacturers and retailers without online sales are particularly bad. Strongly affected by the closures are in particular the fast fashion chains, which change their assortment every 4-6 weeks and buy huge quantities. Now they remain on the spring collection, which probably can no longer be fully sold when the shops reopen. Discount battles are to be presumed. Details Published: 20 April 2020 Read more …
© FEMNET Rana Plaza Memorial Day On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1,134 textile workers. Now, seven years after what is arguably the biggest catastrophe in the clothing sector, general working conditions for workers have improved little. Especially in the current corona crisis, it is also clear how little responsibility the big fashion companies really take on for their textile value chains. Unfortunately, many planned events and demonstrations had to be cancelled, so we are starting a special event for this year's Memorial Day. Join in action! Details Published: 16 April 2020 Read more …
The NGWF trade union distributes educational brochures and food in Bangladesh. © NGWF Support for textile workers in Bangladesh in the corona crisis The NGWF trade union is committed to the health and care of workers in the textile industry. In order to protect workers from infection and reduce the risk of pandemics, NGWF has published brochures on COVID-19 and necessary prevention measures. The leaflets were distributed in the local Bengali language as well as in English. Details Published: 15 April 2020 Read more …
Corona crisis causes emergencies. Food supply to textile worker in Bangladesh. © NGWF Impact of the corona crisis on textile workers in Bangladesh Bangladesh accounts for 75% of the textile industry's exports. The impact on employees in the absence of payments and new orders is catastrophic. Rubana Huq, president of BGMEA, said buyers had canceled $3.15 billion worth of orders in 1,134 factories or did not take off goods. Details Published: 15 April 2020 Read more …
© Regina Weidental Corona Emergency Fund supports Cividep's activities in Bangalore FEMNET has been working with Cividep It is dedicated to empowering the workers in Bangalore. Cividep in cooperation with Munnade and Garment Labour Union (GLU) react quickly to the precarious situation of the textile workers in Bangalore, who must remain in Bangalore despite the standstill of the factories. The focus is on helping those who need it most. Details Published: 14 April 2020 Read more …
In addition to food, help with communication and rental payments is urgently needed.© SAVE Importance of the COVID-19 pandemic for textile workers in Bangalore The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the GOI to impose a curfew, which entered into force on 23 March 2020, was originally intended to last until 14 April 2020 and was ultimately extended until 3 May 2020. The effects are drastic and also affect the textile workers in Bangalore's textile industry. Details Published: 14 April 2020 Read more …
Food distribution to migrant workers on 4 April 2020. © SAVE FEMNET partner organisation SAVE distributes food to families Workers from Tamil Nadu have an employment contract with the factory, which either includes a monthly wage or they are paid by piece. They have not received any wages since March 23, 2020. There is no short-time work allowance, as in Germany, where the state supports companies. However, citizens in need can receive food from Tamil Nadu with the help of a ration card. FEMNET's long-standing partner organisation SAVE At the end of March 2020, the The precarious situation of migrant workers reacts and currently takes care of the care of migrant workers in particular, who do not receive support from the state via the ration card. Details Published: 06 April 2020 Read more …
Food distribution to migrant workers on 31 March 2020. © SAVE The situation of the textile industry and migrant workers in Tamil Nadu during the coronavirus pandemic With the outbreak of the corona crisis, the government of Tamil Nadu imposed a curfew from 23 March to around 14 April 2020. Suddenly there were no more trains or intercity buses. Thousands of migrant workers are stuck. Some migrant workers made their way home on foot - hoping to find a bus along the way - because when all factories are closed, they no longer receive a wage and have to starve. Details Published: 06 April 2020 Read more …