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November 25th is Women's Violence Day. Convention 190 against Violence and Harassment in the Workplace was adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in June 2019. However, despite the support of many countries, it has not yet been ratified in the EU. Individual states reject the agreement. FEMNET and the Clean Clothes Campaign CCC) now publishes a Position paperThat shows the urgency.

Details: Category: Gegen Gewalt an Textilarbeiterinnen; Published: 23 November 2020

No living wages, overtime and gender discrimination. The report:Light into the dark: A Look at Exploitation in the Fashion Industry“ (PDF file) of the Clean Clothes Campaign highlights the need for a supply chain law.

The report uses the latest data from the Online tool FashionChecker How little German fashion companies really pay their workers.

Details: Category: Existenzlohn jetzt! Faire Löhne für Textilarbeiter*innen; Published: 07 October 2020

Bonn/Berlin. Apparently, there will again be no agreement in the cabinet today on the supply chain law promised in the coalition agreement. Non-governmental organizations in the Textile Alliance warn against dilution. A supply chain law must not be limited to large companies. A supply chain law must legally oblige all companies to respect human rights and environmental standards in their supply chain and enable victims to be compensated in German courts.

Details: Category: Lieferkettengesetz; Published: 16 September 2020

Berlin/Bonn/Cologne. Today, Federal Ministers Gerd Müller and Hubertus Heil will present the results of the Federal Government's survey on human rights compliance along global supply chains. It is to be feared that these do not turn out well and that a large part of German companies disregard human rights.

Details: Category: Lieferkettengesetz; Published: 14 July 2020

The Global Nature Fund (GNF) and FEMNET are launching a joint project to improve the procurement of textiles in companies. Through targeted Purchasing strategies are positively influenced by sustainable working conditions and environmental impacts along the supply chain. A survey for all interested companies is currently underway to determine the consulting needs.

Details: Category: Nachhaltiger Textileinkauf für den Privatsektor; Published: 14 July 2020

Bonn, 23.06.2020 – On the occasion of the fashion retailer’s shareholders’ meeting on 23 June 2020, the women’s rights organisation FEMNET Zalando calls for the creation of a ‘fund for living wages’ for the seamstresses in its supply chain. FEMNET also calls for transparency on Zalando's purchasing practices. At the same time as the publication of the Fashion checkers, Uncovering details of wages in the supply chains of 108 fashion brands around the world, the company is said to provide information on due diligence obligations towards employees in its supply chain.

Details: Category: Existenzlohn jetzt! Faire Löhne für Textilarbeiter*innen; Published: 23 June 2020

If the group does not move forward, the shareholders can show it the way. For example, on the occasion of the Hugo Boss Annual General Meeting, shareholder and FEMNET Chairman Dr Gisela Burckhardt calls for the creation of a ‘fund for living wages’ for the group’s seamstresses in its supply chains. At the latest in times of the corona crisis, it is now becoming apparent that without sustainable income structures, the survivability of the clothing industry and its employees is at stake.

Details: Category: Unternehmensverantwortung; Published: 18 May 2020

Press release of civil society in the Textile Alliance

Seven years after the factory collapse of Rana Plaza, textile workers are once again plunging into a crisis due to COVID-19. Right now, the Alliance for Sustainable Textiles must prove itself as an authority for safeguarding human rights responsibility, demands civil society in the Textile Alliance. While brand and retail companies are responding to the COVID-19 crisis with far-reaching cancellations from their suppliers, textile workers in the producing countries are suffering extreme economic hardship due to the loss of income. If the regular wage falls away, which often does not reach the end of the month anyway, there are no social security systems in place.

Details: Category: Unternehmensverantwortung; Published: 24 April 2020

Globally, supply chains are collapsing due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the face of factory closures, wage losses, rising food prices and strict curfews, the situation for precariously employed textile workers is becoming increasingly severe. FEMNET has set up an emergency fund to protect themselves and their families and ensure their existence. In India, FEMNET's partner organizations have started distributing food.

Details: Category: FEMNET-Pressemitteilungen; Published: 11 April 2020

Press release of the Supply Chain Act initiative, an alliance of which FEMNET is a member

Berlin. Time and again, German companies are involved in human rights violations and environmental destruction along their supply chains. In order to prevent this, Federal Development Minister Müller and Federal Labour Minister Heil had already promised in December to publish key points for a supply chain law. According to the editorial network Germany (RND), the Federal Chancellery has prevented the publication of the key points planned for today. The Supply Chain Act initiative calls on the federal government to fulfil its obligations under the coalition agreement and finally to advance the legislative process for a supply chain law.

Details: Category: Lieferkettengesetz; Published: 10 March 2020

Workers' organisation protests against sexual harassment and violence in the workplace on 7 February 2020 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. © Taslima Akter

Bonn, Germany and Dhaka, Bangladesh, 8 March 2020. From economic exploitation to domestic violence, from sexual harassment by supervisors and prerogatives to rape in the workplace, violence and harassment are brutal everyday life for many women in Bangladesh. States and companies are not using their options to protect women from assault. FEMNET and its partner organisations call for the immediate ratification and effective implementation of international conventions for the protection of women in global supply chains.

Details: Category: Gegen Gewalt an Textilarbeiterinnen; Published: 08 March 2020

FEMNET publishes studies on working conditions in India and Tunisia

Extremely low wages, fixed-term contracts and the suppression of trade unions: Occupational clothing is intended to protect employees, but in manufacturing the working conditions are as precarious as in the fashion industry. Research commissioned by FEMNET in Indian and Tunisian factories shows: European brands accept that national labour laws and international core labour standards are trampled on in their suppliers.

Details: Category: FEMNET-Pressemitteilungen; Published: 20 February 2020

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Press Center

Preventing Violence in the Workplace - Implementation is stuck at EU level

Research Finds Exploitation in the Fashion Industry

Supply Chain Act: Duty of care must apply to all companies

NGOs call for gender-responsive supply chain law

Fair wear works: GNF and FEMNET support companies in ecologically fair textile purchasing

How much does a seamstress really earn? Inconvenient questions for Zalando

Salaries to Live Instead of Dividends at Hugo Boss

From Rana Plaza to COVID-19: Textile workers again in deep crisis. Fair Purchasing Practices of Businesses

Corona Emergency Fund: Quick help for seamstresses in India and Bangladesh

Merkel and Altmaier stop push for supply chain law - human rights and environmental protection can no longer wait

Study on sexual harassment of seamstresses in textile factories: Legislation needed to protect women in the workplace

Well protected? Exploitation for European workwear

FEMNET publishes studies on working conditions in India and Tunisia

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