The fashion industry is one of the few industries that will not avoid the economic impacts of the global pandemic. Among the most affected will be hundreds of millions of workers in garment factories around the world – the majority of whom are economically vulnerable women in the “Global South,” a term generally referring to regions in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Cracks Reveal Garment Workers
There is no doubt that job insecurity is nothing new in an industry with a poor track record of protecting workers’ rights, especially concerning health and safety.
History of Human Rights Violations
Clothing production has nearly doubled in the last 15 years. According to the Global Slavery Index, fashion is one of the key industries involved in modern slavery, and in 2018, G20 countries imported $127.7 billion worth of clothing identified as products at risk of modern slavery.
The Pandemic Reveals Poor Working Conditions
During the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers were among the first to be shut down by government order, resulting in decreased demand for clothing. Both fast fashion companies and big brands responded by immediately canceling orders – some of which had already been completed and were awaiting shipment. (In Bangladesh alone, canceled and postponed orders are estimated at nearly $3 billion.) Perhaps worst of all, payments for orders that had already been completed were delayed.
What Can Be Done to Improve Working Conditions?
Brand boycotts are a double-edged sword: while the industry bears responsibility, they can also harm workers. Therefore, while consumers may be called to raise their voices and hold their purchasing decisions accountable, ultimately, change lies in the hands of manufacturers and brands.
Further Reading on Workers’ Rights in the Garment Industry
Education and understanding is the first step toward creating sustainable and lasting change.
Here are some ways consumers, brands, and retailers can learn more about supporting workers’ rights and increasing transparency in the fashion industry:
- Download the Fashion Industry Report to learn more about the challenges facing the fashion industry.
- Visit the International Labor Rights Forum to learn more and read the latest reports on the conditions garment workers face in low-wage countries.
- The 2020 Fashion Transparency Index from Fashion Revolution is a useful tool for consumers, evaluating 250 of the world’s largest brands based on their disclosures regarding social and environmental policies, practices, and impacts.
- Learn about brands that are acting responsibly toward workers and suppliers through the COVID-19 Brand Tracker launched by the Workers Rights Consortium, which outlines companies that have failed to uphold their commitments to pay for completed or currently produced orders.
- If you work as a retailer, brand, or distributor, visit the Get Involved page for Fashion Revolution. The resource package provides free downloadable information to help businesses show transparency in their supply chains.
- The Clean Clothes Campaign has been advocating for the basic rights of garment workers since 1989. On its website, you can find countless resources, including country briefs, research reports, and the latest news related to the well-being of garment workers worldwide.
Source: https://www.shopify.com/enterprise/the-future-of-labor-rights-in-fashion-s-supply-chain
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