Campaign breakthrough in Australia: 34 companies sign retailers code.

Feb 2003, In November last year we reported that the Australian Retailers Association had signed a new Retailer Code with the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, covering the production of clothes made in Australia. At that stage it wasn't clear how many individual retailers would sign onto the code.

We are pleased to report that 34 retailers have now signed the code, including Myer/Grace Bros, Kmart, Target, Cue, David Jones and Big W.

Retailers who sign on to the Code commit to a much higher level of transparency regarding their whole supply chain through to those who actually make their Australian-made clothes. In some cases the retailers must also provide the union with information on the price they paid. The Code also assists the union to take steps to ensure that workers who make those clothes are paid decent wages and have decent conditions.

Fair Wear is encouraging Australians to buy from retailers that have signed the code. Check out Fair Wear's website at:
www.awatw.org.au/fairwear/news/wheretoshop.html for a list of those companies. Note that at this stage the Code only applies to clothes made in Australia.