New Delhi - The official campaign launch for an Asia Floor Wage (AFW) for garment workers was marked by a demand for a tribunal to be held in Asia to rule on the issue of a living wage as a human right.

Activities to launch the wage campaign took place across Asia, including in Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and China. In New Delhi, Indian trade union representatives presented Gianni Tognoni, secretary general of the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) with a petition to hold a tribunal on the living wage issue. Charging multinational garment brands and retailers with responsibily for grave exploitation and human rights violations of Asian garment workers, the AFW Alliance seeks to use a PPT verdict to push companies active in the sector to increase wages and improve its practices. In other parts of Asia press conferences, seminars and actions marked the campaign launch.

Groups Across Asia Put Companies on Alert

The AFW, a grassroots Asian-based initiative pushing for a minimum living wage for garment workers in Asia, officially launched on October 7th, reaching out to 45 international brand name garment companies and retailers to press them to ensure a living wage is paid to the workers producing their garments.

Several major international brands and retailers, including Primark, Gap, and H&M, sent representative to the AFW event in India. The launch of the wage proposal garnered worldwide media coverage.

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