News & Press Releases - Living Wage now!

A response from the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) to Karl-Johan Persson, CEO of H&M.

Recently, Karl-Johan Persson, CEO of H&M, warned in an interview Terrible social consequences. when consumers turn their backs on fast fashion in the face of the climate crisis[i]. In his distorted logic This leads to more poverty, as it puts economic growth and jobs at risk. Persson's claim that reducing consumption threatens the eradication of poverty must be contradicted. His claims are at best misguided and at worst fraudulentThey do not recognise the enormous social and environmental consequences of the global apparel industry.

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Five years after a first check, the Clean Clothes Campaign (with the participation of Public eye, the Clean Clothes campaign Austria and the German Clean Clothes Campaign) In 2019, 45 companies, including eleven German companies, were again contacted and asked about the steps they have taken to ensure that their suppliers pay a living wage.

FEMNET has obtained the results of the Company checks 2019 Take a closer look. What are the eleven German companies involved in this year's check?

Hier unsere Analyse....

© publiceye.ch

Initiated by the Swiss organization Public Eye, we want to put pressure on fashion brands with a wave of inquiries to the customer services of eight fashion companies.

Participate with your request to the customer services of C&A, CALIDA Group, H&M, Strellson, Tally Weijl, Triumph, Zalando and Zara: It's the biggest wave of requests you've ever seen. So we show the companies that concrete steps against exploitation are finally needed.

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The declarations of intent of most fashion houses only look good on paper. This is the conclusion reached by the Clean Clothes Campaign in its "Company check 2019“, for which it examined 45 of the main European brands. Despite promises to the contrary, none of the companies analysed still ensure that their seamstresses receive a living wage in real terms.

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After Months of wrestling and several times Postponement of the decision The Supreme Court finally reached an agreement on the Accord in Bangladesh on 19 May 2019: The agreement on building safety and fire protection guarantees continued work for 281 days.

In addition, the agreement includes the establishment of a national safety committee, which will take over the activities of the Accord, as well as all its infrastructure and staff after that deadline. It is an agreement between the Accord Steering Committee and the BGMEA (Employers' Association of the Bangladeshi Clothing Industry) and is endorsed by the Bangladeshi government.

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Mother who lost her daughter in the collapse of the Rana Plaza building. Photo: © FEMNETMother who lost her daughter in the collapse of the Rana Plaza building. Photo: © FEMNETBonn. Exactly six years ago, 1,134 seamstresses died in the rubble of a factory building in Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. More than 1,800 people were injured. In the ‘Rana Plaza’ building, five textile factories were producing, many for large fashion companies, whose products are also hanging in our wardrobes.

After the disaster, the entire fashion industry declared ‘Never again Rana Plaza!’. But what is the situation today? Six years after the terrible catastrophe, repression and poverty wages dominate Bangladesh's garment industry. Progress in making factories safe is under threat.

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according logoSince November 2018, the decision of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh has been repeatedly postponed at monthly intervals. So also on 15 April 2019. Supposedly, it is now to be decided on May 19 whether the Accord, the building and fire protection agreement that has provided for around 1600 safe export factories, can remain in the country.

The government wants to get rid of the independent inspectors and claims to be able to carry out the factory inspections itself. However, this is questioned by both international buyers and the Clean Clothes Campaign.

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Displaced workers inside BD 24 2 2019 copy FEMNETDisplaced workers are demanding their jobs back. Photo: @ FEMNET

Shocking figures are reported by our partner organisations from Bangladesh: More than 3,000 workers are being charged, and more than 11,000 workers from 105 factories have been laid off since January 2019. Their names are on a blacklist, nowhere can they find a job.

Their crime: They protested against the far too small increase in the monthly minimum wage to 8000 Taka (83,- EUR). The unions had demanded double that (166 euros), after all, the minimum wage has not been adjusted for 5 years. For the majority of workers, the basic wage hardly increases as a result of the revision. Hardly any family can live on the new minimum wage. Further background can be found in our Report of 16 January 2019.

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Workers after a meeting in the office of the FEMNET partner organisation BCWS. Photo: S. Marx ⁇ FEMNETWorkers after a meeting in the office of the FEMNET partner organisation BCWS. Photo: S. Marx ⁇ FEMNET

Bonn. Workers protesting for the lawful implementation of wage increases are currently being fired, detained and harassed. The Bangladeshi trade union NGWF informs FEMNET:

  • Hundreds of workers were arrested.
  • The 4,000 workers were indicted.
  • More than 30 workers have been sued in court.
  • About 7,000 workers were laid off.

On 1 February 2019, the NGWF union protested and called for the arrested workers to be immediately released, false accusations to be withdrawn and dismissed workers to be reinstated.

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