| Indian garment companies try to silence Clean Clothes Campaign |
| Thursday, 01 February 2007 01:00 |
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Feb 1th, 2007 Indian garment companies try to silence Clean Clothes Campaign On Thursday January 11 2007, the Clean Clothes Campaign received a letter from Pramila Associates Advocates on behalf of their client Fibres and Fabrics International (FFI) in which they threaten with court proceedings should the Clean Clothes Campaign not refrain from reporting on the labour conditions at FFI.
 Since August 2006 the CCC together with the India Committee of the Netherlands, publicly urge the Indian garment companies Fibres and Fabrics International Pvt Ltd and Jeans Knit Pvt Ltd (FFI/JKPL) and companies currently sourcing from FFI/JKPL, including Ann Taylor, Armani, G-Star, Gap, Guess, Mexx and Rare, to address workers' rights violations at the FFI/JKPL facilities. Among these violations is the lack of channels for workers to voice their problems at FFI/JKPL without fear of reprisals. Major obstacle to improve working conditions at FFI/JKPL on the long term is the court order silencing local labour organisations that was issued in July 2006 on the basis of a libel complaint filed by FFI/JKPL. In their letter Pramila Advocates accuse the CCC, the India Committee of the Netherlands and two Dutch internet providers to have "indulged in a systematic, planned conspiracy to malign and cause harm and damage to the business, image and reputation of our clients (i.e. FFI/JKPL) by deliberately publishing false information (…)". Pramila threatens to proceed against the CCC for "offences including cyber crime" should the CCC not remove all articles referring to the denial of workers' rights at FFI/JKPL and should the CCC not cease to urge the companies buying from FFI/JKPL to demand the withdrawal of the FFI/JKPL complaint against the local stakeholder organisations. Even though the letter is framed as a legal notice, our legal advisors call the letter lacking any juridical basis and defamatory in itself. The CCC believes this letter exemplary for the current attitude of FFI/JKPL when faced with criticism about the lack of workers' rights at FFI/JKPL, and regrets that FFI/JKPL is again not willing to enter a local dialogue. In reaction to this letter (see below), the CCC has again called upon FFI/JKPL to accept a mediated dialogue and to start a remediation process with the Bangalore unions and labour organisations involved. Mr Mohammed Ghaise Cc: Pramila Associates Advocates Amsterdam, 19 January 2007 Dear Mr. Mohammed Ghaise. Thursday January 11, 2007, the Clean Clothes Campaign - The Netherlands (CCC) and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) received a legal notice sent by Pramila Associated Advocates, in name of their client FFI. This legal notice threatening civil, criminal and 'other' legal action against us prompts us to emphasize the following points, in the hope to clarify the position and ways of operation of CCC and ICN. The Clean Clothes Campaign is an international coalition of NGOs and trade unions that aims to improve working conditions in the global garment and sport shoe industry. The India Committee of the Netherlands is a Dutch NGO that works in support of marginalized groups in India. CCC and ICN share a focus on labour conditions and labour rights in the Indian garment industry. To this end we collaborate closely with Indian NGOs and trade unions. Realisation of and respect for rights of workers in the garment industry is the general objective of our campaigning and advocacy activities. The basis for our work is formed by internationally respected labour standards as laid down in conventions of the International Labour Rights Organisation (ILO) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this context, CCC and ICN have over the past year paid attention to the labour situation at the production units of FFI and JKPL. In a public campaign we have informed our Dutch and international constituencies and audiences of reported labour rights violations and irregularities in the application of labour laws at FFI/JKPL. The information and analysis put forward in this campaign is based on information we received from well respected and trustworthy Indian labour rights organisations. Again on the basis of reports received from NGO sources, CCC and ICN reported positively about the improvements in the labour conditions at the FFI/JKPL facilities brought about by the management of FFI/JKPL in 2006. However, CCC and ICN are concerned about flaws in the labour rights situation at FFI/JKPL that have not yet been addressed. We fear for example, that workers still have insufficient possibilities to speak out freely about their concerns. In the given situation, CCC and ICN would say that freedom of association and the rights to collective bargaining are not assured. However, these are fundamental rights (ILO convention nr. 87 and 98) and should at all times be respected. Taking note of ILO-principles, CCC and ICN are of the opinion that labour conflicts should be solved in good faith. FFI/JKPL and Indian labour support organisations seem currently stuck in a deadlock situation. Despite the difficulties of this specific situation, CCC and ICN would still like to stress the need for dialogue. CCC and ICN therefore hope a remediation process could be initiated, as a means to reach long-term solutions that benefit both the management and the workers of FFI/JKPL. To reach this point, CCC and ICN think third party mediation is needed. To conclude, CCC and ICN would like to call upon FFI/JKPL to have a dialogue with GATWU and other local labour support organisations a new chance. With the help of a mutually acceptable mediator, a remediation process could be started. Yours sincerely, Christa de Bruin - Clean Clothes Campaign The Netherlands Pauline Overeem - India Committee of The Netherlands  More info:  122kb) Read the FFI letter with accusations to the CCC.Read our reaction to this letter More on this case: Indian jeans manufacturer FFI tries to silence its critics >> |
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