Fashion brands must not abandon workers impacted by catastrophic flooding
As devastating floods continue across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia, we are calling on international fashion brands sourcing from affected areas in these countries, together with factory owners and governments, to ensure that workers don’t suffer any additional hardship in the face of this disaster.
At the time of writing, media reports highlight that over 1,150 deaths have occurred and countless others people are missing. It is estimated that the numbers will significantly rise in the coming days. Internet access, as well as vital travel infrastructure has been impacted leaving many unable to reach family members. Millions of people have been displaced and are living in temporary shelters, with hundred of thousands of homes destroyed.
Credit: BGNES
Clean Clothes Campaign members in Sri Lanka have reported that the level of destruction is unprecedented and expected to cause significant and ongoing impact, with food and water shortages predicted. They report that garment worker dormitories are heavily affected. Over 1.1 million people have been displaced in Sri Lanka and it has been labelled a ‘humanitarian crisis of historic proportions’ by the country’s disaster management centre.
In the face of this catastrophic damage, fashion brands must:
Require, and financially enable, suppliers to pay all workers.
Ensure that workers who lose their jobs receive their full severance and sign onto the Pay Your Workers agreement which enables swift payment to workers who lose their jobs in the wake of disaster.
Pay in full and on time for orders and communicate to suppliers that they will accept delays in delivery without imposing penalties.
Ensure workers are given appropriate and paid time off to mourn and deal with this disaster and, where needed, work with and enable suppliers to assist displaced workers with housing costs and ensure injured workers and families of workers who died receive compensation for medical costs and loss of income.
Ensure any factories impacted by the cyclone and flooding only resume production when independently verified it is safe to do so.
This year has seen some of the deadliest flooding on record across Asia, serving as yet another reminder of the damage caused by the climate crisis created and fuelled by corporate greed, incessant ‘growth’, and negligence. The fashion industry desperately needs a Just Transition to a fairer system that protects people and planet and it must happen now. Fashion brands must cut their carbon emissions and environmental harm, make plans for adaption that puts workers at the centre of decision making, protects their safety and health and safeguards their livelihoods.
We are closely monitoring the situation and send strength and courage to all those impacted.