Workers Rights news and archive

H&M to increase unit prices for suppliers in Bangladesh

Swedish fast fashion giant H&M is understood to have told its suppliers in Bangladesh that it would be upping its unit prices following the recently announced minimum wage increase for garment workers in the region. The company reportedly said that it would “absorb the increase in wages” in its product prices, becoming one of the first retailers...

Business

Next cleared by ETI over supply chain fallout

British retailer Next has been cleared by the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI) after one of its suppliers was found to have left workers without due severance following the closure of the company. Turkish manufacturer Neo Trend came under fire in 2021 after it closed its factory and had left workers without their due severance, notice and other...

Business

Adidas faces second hoax by activist collective calling for workers’ rights

In what is now the second hoax carried out against Adidas this year, activist collective Yes Man has once again focused its efforts on the German sportswear giant in a bid to draw attention to the rights of garment workers in its supply chain. All the action took place during the tech conference Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal, where activists...

Business

What the new minimum wage means for garment workers in Bangladesh

On Tuesday, 8 November 2023, the Bangladeshi government announced the new minimum wage for garment workers: from December, they will receive 12,500 taka (around 114 US dollars) instead of the previous 8,000 taka (68 US dollars). At first glance, the increase seems to be okay, as it is up by 56 percent. However, if one compares the monthly...

Business

Minimum wage for textile workers in Bangladesh up, but far below union demands

Textile workers in Bangladesh must earn at least 12,500 taka per month from the government, according to media reports. It is over 50 percent higher than the current minimum wage, but well below the unions' demand for 23,000 taka. The latter amount would be needed for a living wage in Bangladesh. The current minimum wage for textile workers is...

Business

Bangladesh and Pakistan clothing agreements extended for six years

The International Accord on Health and Safety has been extended. The accord covers manufacturing countries Bangladesh and Pakistan and includes agreements on safety in garment factories. The agreement was due to expire on 31 October, but after negotiations, the deadline was extended, with a three-year period and an automatic three-year extension...

Business

UK Amazon workers plan more strikes ahead of Black Friday

Workers of Amazon in the UK have gone on another strike and are planning more as they continue to demand for better pay from the marketplace giant. GMB Union said that more than 1,000 workers in Coventry are currently taking part in the strike, while the organisation further announced a strike ballot at the retailer’s new Birmingham-based...

BusinessFeatured

New investigation claims Boohoo breaks past promises of fair production

A new undercover investigation into Boohoo’s production practices has found evidence that the fashion giant is breaking its previous promises of fair and ethically-produced clothing, despite having claimed to have carried out an overhaul of its operations. The fast fashion conglomerate became the subject of a BBC Panorama investigation, during...

Retail

Boohoo signs up to Pakistan Accord

Giant fast fashion retailers, despite the controversies surrounding their production practices in distant regions, maintain a vested interest in these areas. Boohoo this week garnered attention for joining the Pakistan Accord, a factory safety initiative initiated by the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment...

Business

Labour Behind the Label stages rally for Leicester garment workers

UK non-profit Labour Behind the Label was behind a rally that took place over the weekend in support of garment workers in the Leicester manufacturing industry. With further support from trade unions and workers’ rights organisations, the protest, which took place in Spinney Hill Park, was in regards to job losses and factory closures in the...

BusinessFeatured

Major retailers named in new report exposing exploitation of garment workers in Pakistan

A new report by garment worker solidarity group Labour Behind the Label has accused a slew of major retailers of violating human rights in their Pakistan-based supply chains, largely driven by what the firm called “informalisation” of the workforce. Developed alongside human rights law firm Global Rights Compliance, the report details evidence...

Business

Canadian watchdog to probe Levi’s over forced labour allegations

Levi Strauss Canada is set to face an investigation over allegations of forced labour in what is now adding to the growing list of companies being scrutinised by a Canadian watchdog. The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) has already launched related probes into the Canadian subsidiaries of Hugo Boss, Ralph Lauren, Diesel...