• [File]CCC statement in support of Sri Lanka unions fighting repressionhttps://cleanclothes.org/file-repository/20221020_statement-sri-lanka-meeting-21-oct_v2.odt2 years agoIn recent months, the Sri Lankan government increased its repression amidst an economic and political crisis, sending in the army on workers protesting peacefully. Today our partners Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union together with the National Labour Advisory Council Trade union Collective are holding a members rally at the Public Library in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. CCC, Labour Behind The Label, Maquila Solidarity Network, Workers United and War on Want support the unions, who condemn the government’s disregard for the voice of trade unions and demand the Labour Ministry calls for an immediate meeting of the National Labour Advisory Council.[Download]
• [PDF]Freedom Of Association and The Right To Collective Bargaininghttps://cleanclothes.org/file-repository/ccc-foa-primer-final.pdf2 months agoA Clean Clothes Campaign Primer Focusing on the Global Apparel Industry[Download]
• Union victory at the Huabo Times factory in Myanmarhttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2020/union-victory-at-the-huabo-times-factory-in-myanmar2 years agoWe congratulate the union at the Huabo Times factory in Myanmar for signing an agreement with the factory management after more than two months of fighting against union discrimination.
• Activists urge Bangladesh garment industry to take action after murder of trade unionisthttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2023/press-release-shahidul-islam-best-of-bangladesh2 years agoToday, Clean Clothes Campaign activists protested in Amsterdam at a promotional exposition of the Bangladesh garment industry to urge the government of Bangladesh, the employers’ association, and all brands sourcing from Bangladesh to take immediate action in the wake of the recent murder of trade unionist Shahidul Islam. Activists held up banners outside and spoke up in the conference room to demand justice for Islam’s family, safeguards for the right to organise, and a new minimum wage in line with workers’ demands.
• New union-employer agreement in Sri Lanka addresses key worker rights issueshttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2021/new-union-employer-agreement-in-sri-lanka-addresses-key-worker-rights-issues2 years agoToday, garment worker unions in Sri Lanka have signed a ground-breaking agreement with employer association Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) in which both parties reached an understanding about how to address vital workplace issues for garment workers, especially during the pandemic.
• C&A ignores union busting at its supplier factory in Myanmarhttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2020/ca-ignores-union-busting-at-its-supplier-factory-in-myanmar2 years agoTwo years ago this week, a Myanmar garment factory started a union-busting campaign against a newly formed union, leading to the dismissal and forced resignation of the union’s leadership. All that time, the factory’s major buyer – garment brand C&A – stood by and watched. Despite repeated requests, C&A has failed to address the situation and bring justice for the workers.
• Demonstrations at Bangladeshi embassies demand respect for garment workers’ rightshttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2019/demonstrations-at-bangladeshi-embassies-demand-respect-for-garment-workers-rights2 years agoThis week labour activists and trade unionists around the world are expressing their solidarity with garment workers in Bangladesh through demonstrations in front of Bangladeshi embassies and consulates in cities around the world.
• Hundreds of women workers part of longest running strike in the Katunayake Investment Promotion Zonehttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2019/hundreds-of-women-workers-part-of-longest-running-strike-in-the-katunayake-investment-promotion-zone2 years agoWorkers from workwear manufacturing company ATG Ceylon Pvt Ltd. in Sri Lanka have been subject to a range of human rights abuses breaching both Sri Lankan and international labour laws and conventions.
• A year after crackdown on wage protests in Bangladesh, hundreds of workers still face retaliatory chargeshttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2020/a-year-after-crackdown-on-wage-protests-in-bangladesh-hundreds-of-workers-still-face-retaliatory-charges2 years agoA year ago, tens of thousands of workers in Bangladesh went on strike against the poverty wages that are pervasive in the country’s export-oriented garment industry. On 13 January 2019, a minimal wage revision was announced that, together with massive repression, led workers to end the demonstrations that had been going on since December. Thousands of workers were unable to go back to work, however, facing punishment for their peaceful protest through politically-motivated dismissals, blacklisting, and criminal charges. Public pressure has in the past weeks and months led to withdrawal of at least eight criminal cases. Nevertheless, one year on, hundreds of workers continue to face the threat of serving time in prison for trumped-up and retaliatory charges.
• [PDF]The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the human rights of workers to form or join trade unions and to bargain collectivelyhttps://cleanclothes.org/file-repository/resources-publications-2012-11-22-ituc-industriall-ccc.pdf2 years agoRespect for the human rights of workers is fundamental to the human rights and business debate. With this paper from November 2012, we reaffirm the centrality of industrial relations to both the exercise of due diligence and the remediation of adverse human rights impacts within the framework of the UN Guiding Principles. This paper sets out what it means for a business enterprise to respect the rights of workers to join or form a trade union and the right to bargain collectively. Written by the International Trade Union Confederation, IndustriALL Global Union, the Clean Clothes Campaign and UNI Global Union.[Download]
• [PDF]Update on the Labour Rights Crisis in Bangladeshhttps://cleanclothes.org/file-repository/resources-publications-update-bangladesh-foa-april-20172 years ago[April 2017] This document provides an update about the labour rights crisis in Bangladesh since the agreement signed in February 2017 between trade unions and the government. [Download]
• Bangladesh labour NGO wins fight for registrationhttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2013/09/02/bcws-wins-fight-for-registration12 years agoThe Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) have their official NGO registration reinstated following a three year battle against repression and harassment.
• EU should use review to push for workers' rights and freedom of association in Bangladesh https://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/05/17/eu-should-use-review-to-push-for-workers-rights-and-freedom-of-association-in-bangladesh2 years agoTomorrow, 18 May, the third annual review of the so-called "Sustainability Compact" between Bangladesh, the European Union and the International Labour Organization takes place in Dhaka. Despite optimism voiced by the EU, Bangladesh is still far from meeting its international labour rights' commitments and taking concrete steps enshrined under the Compact. A striking example is the wave of repression which the the Bangladeshi labour movement has faced since December 2016. Clean Clothes Campaign calls upon the EU, as well as brands, national governments and other stakeholders, to maintain pressure on the Bangladeshi government to improve labour conditions and comply with the Compact's demands.
• Brands must intervene to win release of imprisoned labour leaders in Bangladeshhttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/01/19/brands-must-intervene-to-win-release-of-imprisoned-labour-leaders-in-bangladesh2 years agoTwenty-two human and labour rights organizations from around the world are calling on H&M, C&A, Inditex, Gap and VF to press for the release of unjustly imprisoned Bangladeshi union leaders and worker rights advocates and the reinstatement of 1,500 workers suspended or terminated for taking part in a wage strike. Sign the petition!
• Brands must speak out about violations in Cambodiahttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/10/03/brands-must-speak-out-about-violations-in-cambodia2 years agoLabour rights organizations are deeply concerned about the closing of democratic and civil society space in Cambodia. This trend has recently escalated with alarming high-profile incidents of repression against political leaders, non-governmental organizations, and independent media. Clean Clothes Campaign, Worker Rights Consortium, and International Labor Rights Forum are calling on multinational apparel companies sourcing from Cambodia to take a stand against this repression, and to urge the Cambodian government to respect human rights and labour rights.
• Four years after Rana Plaza: steps in the right direction but a lot remains to be donehttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/04/21/four-years-after-rana-plaza2 years agoOn 24 April 2017 the Clean Clothes Campaign network will be remembering those killed and injured at Rana Plaza, the multi-story building which collapsed in Bangladesh four years ago. In a statement released today Clean Clothes Campaign sends its thoughts and sympathies to those still grieving for their loved ones, and those still suffering from the physical and psychological scars left by the disaster. Clean Clothes Campaign is also marking the fourth anniversary of Rana Plaza by outlining a set of key actions needed from governments, brands and employers on building safety, workers rights and transparency. These actions are needed to deliver the fundamental change promised in the aftermath of the disaster.
• Pressure mounting for UNIQLO to pay Indonesian workers compensationhttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/03/23/campaign-pressure-mounting-for-uniqlo-to-pay-workers-legally-required-compensation2 years agoFollowing the actions on International Women's Day in Hong Kong, two Indonesian unions protested at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 10.00 A.M. They demand justice for workers at the shuttered factory PT Jaba Garmindo in Indonesia, which supplied Japanese retailer Uniqlo.
• Labour rights groups call for a review of EU-Bangladesh trade agreement following massive crackdown on workers rightshttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/02/13/labour-rights-groups-call-for-a-review-of-eu-bangladesh-trade-agreement-following-massive-crackdown-on-workers-rights2 years agoThe Clean Clothes Campaign is today joining calls from the global trade unions to demand that the European Union immediately initiate an immediate investigation into serious and systematic violations of fundamental workers’ rights in Bangladesh as provided under the EU’s “Everything But Arms” trade scheme. The call follows the arbitrary arrest and detention of workers and union leaders, the closure of union offices, mass dismissals and ongoing threats and intimidation of union activists.
• Open letter: After five years, it is high time to pay severance to 345 workers who made adidas and Mizuno shoes https://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/07/12/open-letter-to-adidas-and-mizuno2 years agoToday five years ago, a group of Indonesian workers started a strike after their employer had denied them the provincial sectoral wage as well as freedom of association. By the end of July, 1,300 workers were dismissed for participating in the strike. Five years on, 345 workers are still fighting for their rightful severance pay. On this day, Clean Clothes Campaign published an open letter to adidas and Mizuno, the two brands that sourced from the factory in the years preceding these events.
• European Parliament should vote for an investigation into Bangladesh labour violationshttps://cleanclothes.org/news/2017/06/13/european-parliament-should-vote-for-an-investigation-into-bangladesh-labour-violations2 years agoClean Clothes Campaign is today calling on members of the European Parliament to call for a trade investigation into labour rights abuses as part of a resolution on Bangladesh that will be debated this Wednesday. Such an investigation would be carried out by the European Commission in order to assess whether the ongoing and systematic repression of trade union rights in Bangladesh should disqualify it from accessing preferential trading terms with the EU.

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