Binding agreements: building worker safety and reducing risk21 March, 2024With increasing recognition that voluntary, corporate self-monitoring of factories is a failed mechanism comes growing interest in binding agreements between global companies and trade unions as a more reliable route to effective human rights due diligence in supply chains. On 14 March, IndustriALL co-organized, with the New York City Comptroller’s Office, the third in a series of investor roundtables on the subject.
Union win in Sri Lanka5 March, 2024IndustriALL’s Sri Lankan affiliate, Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees Union (FTZ&GSEU), was victorious in the reinstatement of 18 suspended workers and a branch union registration at Texlan hosiery factory in Sri Lanka.
Nigerian unions protest increasing cost of living28 February, 2024On 27 and 28 February thousands of Nigerian workers went on nationwide protests against the increasing cost of living caused by what unions summarize as anti-worker economic austerity measures, that were introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Revised minimum wage in Bangladesh is not enough28 February, 2024Last year, the minimum wage for Bangladesh’s ready made garment (RMG) was revised, but this year’s demand from the textile workers, who are involved in the production of the fabric, has gone unheard as last week, the wage board fixed the minimum wage for cotton textile sector workers at BDT10,000 (US$90).
Garment workers in Sri Lanka attacked by employer 15 February, 2024On 9 February, management of Sumithra Group in Sri Lanka physically assaulted union members in the Hasalaka factory and forcefully prevented workers from attending a union meeting scheduled that day. According to the union, brands sourcing from the factory include ASDA, Superdry and Dillard’s.
Indian garment workers protest delay in wage increase14 February, 2024On 12 February, the Garment and Fashion Workers’ Union (GAFWU), affiliated to IndustriALL through Unions United, protested outside the labour commissioner’s office in Chennai, India, against the prolonged delay in the notification of the new minimum wage.
Union win at Pontus Footwear 7 February, 2024In a victory for organizing, Pontus Footwear in Cambodia has agreed to reinstate three local union leaders from Collective Union of Movement of Workers (CUMW). This follows over a year of engagement with American brand VFC who sources from the factory.
Deplorable working conditions at textile and garment factories in South Africa 25 January, 2024In December last year labour inspectors from the department of employment and labour visited textile and garment factories in Mandeni in KwaZulu Natal Province, about 80 km from Durban, and were shocked by the deplorable working conditions that they witnessed.
Union leaders in Cambodia must be reinstated24 January, 2024IndustriALL Global Union is calling on Shun Xin Luggage in Cambodia to reinstate nine union leaders whose fixed contracts (FDC) were discontinued after forming a union in the factory.
20 per cent wage increase for textile workers in Tunisia17 January, 2024Textile workers in Tunisia have received a 20 percent wage increase distributed over 2024, 2025 and 2026. The increase comes after an agreement on 12 January between IndustriALL affiliate Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir - FGTHCC-UGTT and the employers’ organization Fédération Nationale du Textile FENATEX - UTICA.
