Fashion Revolution’s Post

🆕 Freedom of association is the enabling labour right that ensures decent livelihoods and safe workplaces. Trade unions play a crucial role in human rights and environmental due diligence and a just transition to net-zero supply chains. Yet too often fashion brands turn to ineffective worker representation structures to tick the freedom of association box—at workers' expense. Alternative structures such as workplace committees and "yellow unions" lack a mandate for collective bargaining and are often co-opted by factory management. We spoke to unions and workers in South and Southeast Asia to find out how this landscape works. Across all six countries we looked at, garment factories were said to use alternative structures as a tool to prevent trade unions building the membership density they need. Read the full report and find out more about union busting and alternative worker representation structures 👉 https://lnkd.in/epTjBANM #garment #apparel #fashion #duediligence #CSDDD #supplychain #freedomofassociation #workersrights #labourrights #tradeunions #bizhumanrights #justtransition

Really important study from BHRRC and highly pertinent to #justtransition efforts. The ILO is clear: Just transition "should be based on effective social dialogue, respect for fundamental principles and rights at work, and be in accordance with international labour standards." Freedom of association and collective bargaining are enabling rights and "vital for social dialogue". And BHRRC outline how: "brands have a critical role to play in ensuring their policy commitments on freedom of association are actually put into practice, through safeguarding the rights of supply chain workers to organise and speak freely. Evidence throughout this report shows that when international fashion brands use their leverage to assert the right of trade unions to organise within supplying factories, it works." Love the clarity in this. Workers are rights-holders. They have a right to a seat at the decision-making table when it comes to #climateadaptation and #climatemitigation efforts in factories and workplaces. They understand what will work and how best to implement it. The report includes great recommendations for brands and for investors. And I'm sure much of this is relevant beyond the fashion sector. Thanks BHRRC for this important work. #bizhumanrights #climatecrisis

New report from me and Natalie Swan, developed in collaboration with the Clean Clothes Campaign, exploring how, across six key garment producing countries in South and Southeast Asia, workers' fundamental right to freedom of association is undermined by "fake" representation structures that deny workers genuine avenues for representation and collective bargaining, while allowing fashion brands and auditors to "tick the freedom of association box". Trade unions in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan shared stories of their struggle to build membership and secure better terms and conditions for workers in the face of widespread union busting – with the promotion of workplace committees and “yellow” unions over democratic, independent trade unions a key tactic used by employers. Positive examples of brands using their leverage to protect the enabling right of freedom of association for workers in their supplier factories are highlighted in the report, but sadly, these are not the norm. Only 9% of survey respondents agreed with the statement: “In general, international brands respect freedom of association and I trust them to intervene when management undermines or threatens independent unions.” On the other hand, 50% said: “International brands say that they respect freedom of association but it’s just for show – they rarely intervene when there is an issue”. In the words of one interviewee, “If brands used their power they could create change, but mostly they don’t want to … they just want the profit”. Read full report here: https://lnkd.in/epTjBANM .... and a nice write up in Vogue Business here: https://lnkd.in/efMwKqMb #freedomofassociation #labourrights #workersrights #supplychains #fashion #garment #apparel #duediligence #justtransition

Important report on the state of workers' rights in the textile and garment industry. Most global fashion brands are not doing what the should to allow workers' to have an independent voice and to negotiate their own conditions. Instead, they rely on yellow unions and other bogus structures to tick the workers' rights box in their sustainability reports.

Freedom of association, the enabling right that garment workers use to stand up for themselves, is under pressure across the garment industry. We realise that every day, but especially on this day as we commemorate the highest price paid for trade union activism. Read more about the threats to freedom of association in this recent Vogue Business article, reporting on the new report by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre:

We have written to the government following #BBCPanorama shocking but unsurprising expose. 35 trade unions, labour rights organisations, experts say We need action! We call for - protecting workers - addressing causes of exploitation - due diligence legislation and more! Full text and signatories can be found here. https://lnkd.in/gMa5ymt6

"Freedom of association is the enabling right that underpins all other progress towards better terms and conditions,” says Natalie Swan, labour rights programme manager at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. “If freedom of association is set up correctly — if you build the muscle of social dialogue with workers — then stakeholders will be familiar with sitting down together and improving things. Only through building strong trade unions that represent members and have a mandate to work on their behalf, can you collectively bargain to improve all other terms and conditions in the workplace.” The role of trade unions has never been more crucial - and ensuring freedom of association is essential for fashion brands navigating new regulations like the EU #CSDDD and a just transition to net-zero supply chains. Yet brands and suppliers too often turn to alternative structures like workplace committees and yellow unions to tick the box - leaving workers to pay the price. Bella Webb reports for Vogue Business ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/gSt3yM7i

'You need clothing? We need rights.' - Yang Sophorn, president of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions. Read the latest story from our #WhatSheMakes campaign and hear from the women garment workers on the frontlines of the fight for the right to a living wage in #Cambodia. P.S. Do you have 2 minutes? Sign the REVEAL THE CHAIN petition! Our focus is on @Aritzia, and our message is clear: Jennifer Wong, Aritizia CEO, must address supply chain transparency and fair wages. Transparency is the key to fair wages and ensuring human rights are upheld. Together, we can drive change.

Collective bargaining is key for worker justice ⚖️✊ Workers are their own best advocates and the best way for them to get better working conditions is by joining together to speak out and bargain with their employers. Without the ability to negotiate, workers can end up trapped in poverty or subject to dangerous working conditions. According to the 2023 Global #FashionTransparencyIndex, 85% of the world’s largest fashion brands publicly state their commitments towards freedom of association and workers’ right to collectively bargain but just 39% disclose how they are putting these policies into action. Despite being one of the most effective ways to improve working conditions, big brands are not doing enough to ensure the people who make their clothes can organise. So what exactly is collective bargaining and why is it so important for worker justice? Find out: https://lnkd.in/e7Y5eBRb