© NGWF Ongoing violence in Bangladesh - Companies in the Textiles Partnership must finally show their colours Joint press release by FEMNET, SÜDWIND Institute, INKOTA network and HEJSupport The recently set minimum wage in Bangladesh for garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros) continues to lead to protests and riots. Workers are deliberately injured, abducted, wrongfully charged, imprisoned, imprisoned or even killed. However, there has been no concrete support for the trade unions' demands for a higher minimum wage from purchasing companies so far. Until 26.11.2023 is now the last opportunity to take an effective position. Details Published: 21 November 2023 Read more …
© CCC New minimum wage in Bangladesh equals starvation wage Joint press release by FEMNET and the Clean Clothes Campaign Bonn/Berlin. The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday set the new minimum wage for the country's 4.4 million garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros). The amount is far below the 23,000 taka demanded by trade unions. According to studies, this amount is necessary for a decent life in Bangladesh. Although many fashion brands say they are committed to living wages, few support the unions' demand. For workers in the garment sector, the new minimum wage means that they will continue to struggle to survive and will be forced to work excessive overtime, take out loans, skip meals or even send their children to work instead of school. Details Published: 09 November 2023 Read more …
© Shahidul Islam Killing of a trade unionist during minimum wage negotiations in Bangladesh After five years, the minimum wage in Bangladesh will be renegotiated. Trade unions are calling for an increase in wages to 23,000 Taka in order to secure the basic supply of workers. In recent months, trade union intimidation by factory owners has become more common. Following the murder of trade unionist Shahidul Islam, FEMNET is reaching further worrying news indicating a growing risk for workers and trade unionists. Details Published: 05 September 2023 Read more …
Workers at a NGWF trade union demonstration in Bangladesh 10 years after Rana Plaza: What has happened? Ten years ago, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed, killing more than 1,000 people. Building safety in factories has been improved by international agreements, such as the Accord. But what has happened in terms of working conditions? In February we were in Bangladesh and spoke with our partner organization NGWF. Details Published: 21 April 2023 Read more …
Petition for living wages Wages that come to life – this is what the EU citizens’ initiative calls for with its campaign ‘Good Clothes and Fair Pay” Currently, the majority of textile workers in the global apparel industry cannot afford to live in a decent home, eat a healthy diet or go to the doctor. The national minimum wage is often insufficient to cover the cost of living. A living wage is not a luxury, it is a basic human right! Details Published: 03 August 2022 Read more …
© FEMNET First trip to India since Corona - lively exchange with FEMNET partner organisations After two years of travel, Daniela Wawrzyniak, coordinator of FEMNET foreign projects, and Gisela Burckhardt, CEO of FEMNET, travelled to Tirupur in Tamil Nadu and Bangalore for 10 days from 22 May to 1 June 2022. They visited our partner organizations SAVE, READ, Munnade, GLU and Cividep and bring many impressions with them. Details Published: 13 June 2022 Read more …
Relaunch of the Fashion Checker: None of the fashion companies surveyed guarantees that workers in their supply chain will receive the same wages even during the pandemic As new data from the Fashion Checker shows, transparency remains the key to holding fashion companies accountable when workers, trade unions and activists ask them not to leave their workers in distress and despair during the pandemic. None of the fashion companies surveyed guarantees that workers in their supply chain will receive the same wage as before during the pandemic - let alone a living wage. In addition, the data from the Fashion Checker show users the gap between a living wage and the actual wages paid in the factories. Details Published: 06 October 2021 Read more …
© CCC Research Finds Exploitation in the Fashion Industry No living wages, overtime and gender discrimination. The report:Light into the dark: A Look at Exploitation in the Fashion Industry“ (PDF file) of the Clean Clothes Campaign highlights the need for a supply chain law. The report uses the latest data from the Online tool FashionChecker How little German fashion companies really pay their workers. Details Published: 07 October 2020 Read more …
Wage losses exacerbate risks for textile workers The range of wage losses for millions of textile workers in the face of cancelled orders and collective redundancies is shown in a recently published report by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC). Although the figures are based only on rough calculations, they give an indication of the sums that would be needed to provide for the workers. Details Published: 14 August 2020 Read more …
How much does a seamstress really earn? Inconvenient questions for Zalando Bonn, 23.06.2020 – On the occasion of the fashion retailer’s shareholders’ meeting on 23 June 2020, the women’s rights organisation FEMNET Zalando calls for the creation of a ‘fund for living wages’ for the seamstresses in its supply chain. FEMNET also calls for transparency on Zalando's purchasing practices. At the same time as the publication of the Fashion checkers, Uncovering details of wages in the supply chains of 108 fashion brands around the world, the company is said to provide information on due diligence obligations towards employees in its supply chain. Details Published: 23 June 2020 Read more …
