Call for tenders for a study on minimum wages in Sindh Province in Pakistan in January and February 2023 Research on labor rights violations for potential complaints under the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LKSG) The German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (LKSG) has come into force in January 2023. It obliges companies with more than 3000 employees to exercise human rights due diligence with regards to their supply chain. In particular, the right to an adequate wage and freedom of association are protected under the law (§ 2 II No. 6, 8, 11). In this context, the German NGOs FEMNET (member of the Clean Clothes campaign) and ECCHR (the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights) are working on a project to see how the law can help to address labor rights violations in garment factories. Category: 2023 Published: 11 January 2023 Read more …
© FEMNET Open Letter: Failure to comply with human rights due diligence obligations Together with other supporters FEMNET and ECCHR address the brands TOM TAILOR, IKEA, Deichmann and Amazon today, on the anniversary of the devastating #Tazreen factory fire. Ten years ago, on Nov. 24th, 2012, 117 people died in the Tazreen factory fire. Exactly six months later, 1,135 people died in the rubble of Rana Plaza. The "Accord for Building Safety and Fire Prevention in Bangladesh" (Bangladesh Accord) was a response to these tragedies and has been successful in preventing such tragedies in the garment industry. Yet leading companies that produce in Bangladesh have not signed the Accord to date, including: TOM TAILOR, IKEA, Deichmann and Amazo. Category: 2022 Published: 24 November 2022 Read more …
© Initiative Lieferkettengesetz Inflation and its effects on the producing countries of the clothing industry The inflation rate in Germany is currently at 10%, but also people in theproduction countries are looking to the future fearfully. Food prices have skyrocketed in many countries, while real wages are stagnating and less and less is enough to live on. In addition, the subdued consumption mood in Europe is having a noticeable impact on textile factories. Category: 2022 Published: 04 November 2022 Read more …
© Somo | Martje Theuws Overtime, Surveillance and Violence - On the Current Situation in Myanmar With the executions of four activists at the end of July, the violence of the military regime in Myanmar has reached a new, sad climax. De facto head of government, Aung San Suu Kyi, was sentenced to six more years in prison. Meanwhile, the situation of Myanmar's textile workers is becoming increasingly threatening. Raids and arrests at factories are on the rise. At the same time, labor rights are being curtailed, wages cut and unrealistic production targets set. Category: 2022 Published: 24 October 2022 Read more …
Rukmini Vaderapura Puttaswamy. © Regina Weidental Indian women's rights activist Rukmini V. Puttaswamy receives prize from the Bremen Senate Chancellery The 17th Bremen Solidarity Award was presented in 2021 to trade unionist Rukmini Puttaswamy of Munnade/GLU at the suggestion of FEMNET. Rukmini is president of the only women-led union GLU (Garment Labour Union) in India. Rukmini is a tireless fighter and has been campaigning hard for the rights of women garment workers for many years. For FEMNET, Rukmini and GLU are reliable project partners. Together we have already been able to achieve a lot and, for example, help in hundreds of cases of labor rights violations. Femnet is extremely happy about this recognition for Rukmini. She and the trade union women of GLU have more than earned the 10,000 Euro prize. In June 2022 several events will host Rukmini as key speaker and honor her for her achievements. Category: 2022 Published: 13 June 2022
Global support for strong European regulations - Statement from civil society and trade unions on the EU supply chain law Together with over 220 civil society networks, individual organisations and trade unions from around the world, we are addressing the European Parliament and EU Member States with a joint statement today. Whether from India, Brazil, USA, China or Bangladesh, all the signing organisations have one thing in common: they demand a strong EU supply chain law. Only a strong EU supply chain law can effectively improve conditions for people, environment and climate along global value chains! Joint Statement „„Civil society statement on the proposed EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive““ (pdf-file) Category: 2022 Published: 11 May 2022
Focus: Garments Production The German print magazin D+C (Development & Cooreration) features the worldwide garments production in its May issue. Dr. Gisela Burckhardt, FEMNET's chairwoman of the board wrote about the German Green Button Lable, which is supposed to stand for sustainability, but needs more stringent criteria in her oppinion. Read this article and many more on this focus topic. Download the magazin (pdf-file, 3.7 MB) Category: 2022 Published: 04 May 2022
© Taslima Akter Open letter to the European Union: Supply chain law hast to ensure gender-responsive due diligence The draft European supply chain law adopted by the EU on February 23 is a success. It establishes rules for compliance with environmental and human rights standards in global value chains. However, it does not sufficiently address the consequences of corporate actions on women and girls. That is why 82 organizations, including FEMNET, are signing an open letter to the European Union demanding that the text is improved to combat gender inequalities and discrimination in global value chains. Open letter: Ensuring a gender-responsive and effective Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence legislation (PDF-file) Category: 2022 Published: 07 April 2022
ID of Jeyasre Kathiravel. © Handout Huge success in India: H&M signs contract with Indian producer Eastman to stop gender specific violence In the South Indian state Tamil Nadu, the textile worker Jeyasre (20 years old) has been raped and killed by her supervisor at 5th of January 2021. Subsequently, the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) executed an independent investigation on behalf of H&M. Conversations of H&M with Eastman Group, as well as with the labour union Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Union (TTCU) took place. These conversations resulted in the setup of a legally binding agreement against gender specific violence. Category: 2022 Published: 06 April 2022 Read more …
Textiles Partnership: The Partnership Initiative Tamil Nadu 2.0 successfully starts its second phase The joint commitment to improved grievance structures in spinning mills and the promotion of stakeholder dialogue continues. The Partnership Initiative Tamil Nadu entered its second phase in November 2021. The focus is now on around 40 spinning mills in the four districts of Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode and Tiruppur. In addition to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and FEMNET, the four Partnership companies Tchibo, the Otto Group, KiK and HUGO BOSS AG are once again participating in this project. As in the first project phase, the local NGO SAVE is organizing the on-site implementation. Rising numbers of infections and repeated lockdowns in the Indian state caused delays. But now the project is picking up speed and the first factory visits and training sessions have taken place. Category: 2022 Published: 31 March 2022 Read more …
© FEMNET Focus on gender-equitable health: Launch of a new multi-stakeholder initiative in the clothing and footwear sector In April 2022, a new initiative in the textile and footwear industry took off. The aim is to improve the health situation of workers. The focus is on production regions in India and Indonesia as well as possibilities for action in Germany. The organizations FEMNET e.V. and SÜDWIND Institute are initiating the initiative in Germany. "We want to take into account the needs of all relevant stakeholders right from the start. These include local workers, local trade unions and other civil society organizations. At the same time, it is important for us to involve companies, existing initiatives and suppliers," explains project manager Lisa Carl from FEMNET. Category: 2022 Published: 30 March 2022 Read more …
© SAVE, Indien Ratification of ILO Convention 190 required As part of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, FEMNET has proposed to call on the German government in an Open Letter on Women's Day on March 8 to finally ratify ILO Convention 190 against gender-based violence in the workplace. A total of 32 alliance members, including 17 companies, signed a letter to Minister Heil (Ministry of Labor) and Minister Schulze (BMZ). Category: 2022 Published: 09 March 2022 Read more …
