News - The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (Textiles Partnership) 06 November 2018 Experts from producing countries demand living wages for workers worldwide Press conference and panel discussion of civil society in the Textile Alliance: It's time! Stop the empty promises. Berlin. A key issue is the reward for living. Trade unionists in Bangladesh are on hunger strike due to insufficient minimum wages. In Cambodia and Indonesia, but also in Turkey, there are strikes and protests because wages are not paid. As a result, trade unionists are pressured or dismissed. The Alliance for Sustainable Textiles wants to change this and has set itself the goal of achieving social, ecological and economic improvements along the entire textile supply chain. From 2019, all companies of the Textile Alliance are to anchor measures for the payment of living wages in their suppliers as a binding alliance goal. Alliance initiatives in Cambodia, among others, are in preparation. The joint effort could have a leverage effect. For this, however, a broad participation of the industry is needed. “Existence-enhancing wages are a human right. So far, the clothing companies have only paid lip service. It is finally time for promises to become a reality", says Tim Zahn, coordinator of civil society in the Textile Alliance. Civil society organisations in the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles are therefore seeking dialogue and are inviting to a public event entitled ‘Existence-enhancing wages in the global textile industry - labour rights activists report on their fight for better wages’. International partners of the Clean Clothes Campaign, among others, will meet for a symposium in Berlin from 05.-07.11.2018. Trade unionists and experts on human rights at work from the producing countries (including Bangladesh, Bulgaria, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Turkey and Ukraine) are struggling for practical approaches that are more than words. Press conference and panel discussion on Tuesday, 6 November 2018 6 p.m. - 6.30 p.m.: Press conference 19:15 - 19:45: Interview with experts from labour law organisations: Dina Septi (LIPS, Indonesia) Khun Tharo (CENTRAL, Cambodia) 19:45 - 20:45: Panel discussion: "How can living wages be achieved in the global textile industry?" Panel guests: Anannya Bhattacharjee (Asia Floor Wage Alliance), Kalpona nude (Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity), Michael Krake (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), Nanda Bergstein (Tchibo) venue NABU - Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (Space Stork - back in the courtyard)Charitéstraße 310117 Berlin If you would like to come to the event, please register briefly with Tim Zahn (coordinator of the civil society organisations in the Textile Alliance): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Contact persons Dr Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET/CCC, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 0152 01774080 Dr. Sabine Ferenschild, SÜDWIND Institute, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel: 0228 7636 9816 Berndt Hinzmann, INKOTA network/CCC, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 0160 94 69 87 70 Civil society in the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles The Alliance for Sustainable Textiles is an initiative launched in 2014 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development with the aim of continuously improving social, ecological and economic sustainability along the entire textile chain. 18 civil society organisations are members of the Textile Alliance and are represented in the steering committee by the following three NGOs: FEMNET, INKOTA network, SOUTH WIND Institute.
