Workers Rights news and archive

Shein bans cotton from unapproved regions for US

Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein has introduced new rules for sourcing cotton in products destined for the US market, Reuters reports. The company announced that cotton will now only be sourced from approved regions, such as the US, India, Brazil and Australia. Pressure is mounting for Shein to be more transparent about its supply chain,...

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Survivors of the earthquake in Türkiye now receive compensation

The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) Türkiye, a non-governmental organisation that protects workers' rights in the global supply chain, reports in a press release that a number of workers who survived the devastating 2023 earthquake in southeastern Turkey and Syria, which killed over 50,000 people, have finally been compensated by their employer....

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New report unveils child labour concerns at Indian cotton farms

A new report by Transparentem has brought forth worrying allegations of child labour, abusive working conditions and wage violations at Indian cotton farms linked to 60 global brands. The organisation’s initial investigation began in 2022 and ran until March 2023, with the report further underlining companies’ efforts to remediate the issues as...

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Retailers halt use of gig economy apps following trade union backlash

A number of UK retailers have reportedly stopped using gig economy apps like YoungOnes and Temper to hire freelance retail workers after unions criticised the method. According to the Guardian, Uniqlo, Gymshark and Lush are believed to have halted the use of these apps after just a short period of time. It seems that the decisions came as a...

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Italy: Audit system for luxury companies raises questions

Following the scandal surrounding working conditions at certain subcontractors of luxury brands based in Italy, Reuters is shedding light through an investigation on the audit system of large luxury groups that is deemed to be "failing". Last June, Dior, Armani and many other luxury brands were accused of collaborating with subcontractors who do...

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British lawmakers to question Shein over working conditions

As Shein looks to list on the London Stock Exchange, a British parliamentary committee plans to probe the company over the rights of workers in its supply chain, Reuters reported on January 2, adding that the all-party Business and Trade Committee will also probe the Temu marketplace . On January 7, Yinan Zhu, Shein’s general counsel for Europe,...

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Fashion Workers Act signed into NY law: What does this mean for the industry?

After what has been a lengthy legislative process, the Fashion Workers Act has officially been signed into law in New York. The bill intends to regulate the modelling and creative industries in the state, specifically tackling “predatory management agencies” that have previously gone unchecked. Set to go into effect from June 2025, the Fashion...

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Strikes and blockades at Amazon sites in the US and Germany

New York - On Thursday, a strike at several US and German sites of the American online retail giant Amazon began just a few days before the end-of-year holidays, to specifically demand wage increases. The industrial action began at 11:00 GMT in the US on Thursday due to Amazon management's refusal to negotiate with the Amazon Labor Union (ALU),...

Retail

Urban Outfitters and Gymshark among retailers accused of hiring festive workers without basic rights

A new report has accused a number of UK retailers of hiring young “freelance” employees via hiring apps that leave them without basic employment rights. According to The Observer, Urban Outfitters, Gymshark and Uniqlo are understood to be among those carrying out such practices as they fill out staff in preparation for the festive season. Such...

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REI comes under fire for allegations of labour rights violations

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) has become the subject of allegations surrounding “serious and pervasive violations of labour rights in the supply chain”. This is according to a new report by the Students for International Labor Solidarity (SILS) and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMASS), responding to complaints made by sources...

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Oxfam calls on Australian brands to pay living wages to garment workers

An analysis by Oxfam Australia has claimed that a number of notable Australian brands are underpaying their garment workers despite raking in over one billion dollars in revenue last year. According to the nonprofit organisation, Kmart Group, Big W, Cotton On, Rip Curl, Kathmandu owner KMD, Myder and Bonds’ parent company Hanes “still don’t pay...

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Uniqlo boss says brand does not use Xinjiang cotton

Fast Retailing’s chief executive, Tadashi Yanai, has claimed that the company’s core brand, Uniqlo, does not use cotton sourced from China’s Xinjiang region in its products. Yanai addressed the concern to the BBC, to which he confirmed that the company was not utilising cotton from this district, before stating: “It gets too political if I say...