CCC statement on the report of the rapporteurs of the EP’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs on the proposal for a directive on adequate minimum wages in the European Union

The Clean Clothes Campaign in May 2021 sent this statement welcoming the initiative of the EU Commission and the Committee for Employment and Social Affairs of the EU parliament “to ensure both that minimum wages are set at adequate and fair level and that workers have access to minimum wage protection”. The 35 Million garment workers worldwide – mostly women – are typical statutory minimum wage earners. This includes almost 1 Million garment workers in Central East-, East- and South East EU Member States. One important criterion for the sourcing decisions of fashion brands and retailers is the statutory minimum wages of potential sourcing countries. Brands and fashion retailers look for the countries with the lowest statutory minimum wages. Among them are many countries beyond the „iron wage curtain“ within Europe.