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
Director Fibres & Fabrics International /
Jean Knit Pvt Ltd
E-mail: ffi@fibresnfabrics.com
Cc: Pramila Associates Advocates
E-mail: pramila.associates@gmail.com, pramila_associates@hotmail.com
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
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