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In discussions on health protection and occupational safety for workers in the textile and footwear industries, gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) is rarely given the attention it deserves. However, a recent study by TURC in Indonesia (2023) and CIVIDEP in India (2023) reveals that GBVH has significant impacts on the physical and mental health of workers. But what can be done about it? The policy paper “Zero Tolerance in Fashion” provides deeper insights into the connection between GBVH and workplace safety and health protections. 

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The studies show that high production targets, an oppressive work-environment with constant threats of wage cuts or being fired, and the added burden of unpaid care work at home after long working hours put women workers under permanent stress and fatigue. Aggravated by excessively low wages and a lack of economic alternatives, many workers are forced to prioritize their productivity over basic labor rights associated with health. 

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Europas „Green Deal“ fordert von Unternehmen nachhaltiges Handeln. Vier Wirtschafts-Professor*innen der Fachhochschule Dortmund haben untersucht, ob Nachhaltigkeit im Vertrieb deutscher Unternehmen nur ein schönes Wort auf dem Papier oder gelebte Praxis ist. Ihr Fazit: Die Firmen haben noch einiges zu tun. Aber wenn sie jetzt handeln, zahlt es sich aus. 

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The report “Ensuring safety and health at work in a changing climate” presents critical evidence related to six key impacts of climate change on OSH, which were chosen for their severity and the magnitude of their effects on workers: excessive heat, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, extreme weather events, workplace air pollution, vector-borne diseases and changes in agrochemical use. It includes the most pertinent evidence regarding worker exposures and the main safety and health impacts. It also summarizes examples of existing responses to these hazards, such as policies and strategies, laws, collective agreements, technical guidelines, training and advisory initiatives, awareness raising campaigns and workplace level actions. 

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This second chapter of the two-part series ‘A Zero Waste Vision for Textiles’ sketches out what a truly circular and toxic-free system for textiles looks like. The report investigates the current barriers to circularity, identifies solutions, and makes recommendations for policy measures in the EU. 

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