Press archive for the year 2023

Joint press release by FEMNET , ECCHR and Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Berlin, Bonn, Karachi. New research by Pakistani trade unions National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) and HomeBased Women Worker’s Federation (HBWWF) and the German human rights organisations FEMNET and ECCHR show that even the minimum wage is often not paid in the supply chains of German companies: The report: "No contracts, no rights: How the fashion industry is cheating its workers on minimum wages Exposes alarming labour rights violations in textile factories in Pakistan that have been ongoing for years and calls for immediate action by fashion brands. The German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG), which entered into force on 1 January 2023, requires companies to ensure compliance with labour rights in their value chains. For this reason, the authors of the study informed those companies named by the workers surveyed, which are covered by the new law, about the labour rights violations committed by their producers in Pakistan. While many of the brands have not yet taken effective action, the law has been instrumental in ensuring that some companies now take responsibility for their due diligence obligations.

Details: Category: Lieferkettengesetz; Published: 07 December 2023

Joint press release by FEMNET, SÜDWIND Institute, INKOTA network and HEJSupport

The recently set minimum wage in Bangladesh for garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros) continues to lead to protests and riots. Workers are deliberately injured, abducted, wrongfully charged, imprisoned, imprisoned or even killed. However, there has been no concrete support for the trade unions' demands for a higher minimum wage from purchasing companies so far. Until 26.11.2023 is now the last opportunity to take an effective position.

Details: Category: Existenzlohn jetzt! Faire Löhne für Textilarbeiter*innen; Published: 21 November 2023

Joint press release by FEMNET and the Clean Clothes Campaign

Bonn/Berlin. The government of Bangladesh on Tuesday set the new minimum wage for the country's 4.4 million garment workers at 12,500 taka per month (106 euros). The amount is far below the 23,000 taka demanded by trade unions. According to studies, this amount is necessary for a decent life in Bangladesh. Although many fashion brands say they are committed to living wages, few support the unions' demand. For workers in the garment sector, the new minimum wage means that they will continue to struggle to survive and will be forced to work excessive overtime, take out loans, skip meals or even send their children to work instead of school.

Details: Category: Existenzlohn jetzt! Faire Löhne für Textilarbeiter*innen; Published: 09 November 2023

In February 2022, the European Commission presented its proposal for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to protect human rights and the environment. The position of the Council of Ministers followed in December 2022. In months of negotiations, the committees of the European Parliament have formulated a compromise, which was put to the vote and adopted on 1 June.

Details: Category: Lieferkettengesetz; Published: 01 June 2023

Joint press release by FEMNET, NGWF and ECCHR

"10 years after Rana Plaza, there are still factories in Bangladesh that produce clothing for international companies such as Amazon, IKEA or Tom Tailor, where there are hardly any security controls. We can no longer accept that," says Amirul Haque Amin, President and Co-Founder of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF).

FEMNET, ECCHR and NGWF submit the first complaint against Amazon and IKEA to a German authority, the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), on the basis of the Supply Chain Act, which entered into force in January 2023. This is based on a research carried out by the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) in Bangladesh in March 2023, which identified safety deficiencies such as lack of inspections, but also other labour rights violations such as lack of trade union freedom.

Details: Category: Lieferkettengesetz; Published: 24 April 2023

Illustration: Assembly line with worker and technician

Joint press release by FEMNET and SÜDWIND

Occupational safety and health is more than just the maintenance of machinery. This is one of the first messages highlighted by the project team of the Multi-Actor Initiative on Gender Equality in Occupational Health and Safety.

Details: Category: Gendergerechter Gesundheitsschutz; Published: 18 January 2023

Femnet e.V.

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Press archive for the year 2023

Supply Chain Act has an impact: Fashion brands respond to indications of labour rights violations

Ongoing violence in Bangladesh - Companies in the Textiles Partnership must finally show their colours

New minimum wage in Bangladesh equals starvation wage

European Parliament votes in favour of supply chain law: Milestone for human rights, environment and climate protection

First complaint case filed under German Supply Chain Act

Focus on gender-responsive health: One year multi-stakeholder initiative in the apparel and footwear sector