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NEWSLETTER 12, MAY 2000
Organising along international subcontracting
chains
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International subcontracting chains present a huge challenge to all
of us who are promoting the rights of workers in the garment industry.
The complexity of these chains mean that many workers have no idea
who they are working for and where the final products are sold. Meanwhile
although retailers are at centre of power they themselves often don't
know where their goods are made. It is essential to gain greater understanding
of international subcontracting chains and to build links between
organisations supporting workers at different points along these chains.
Only then can we be sure that appropriate strategies are being developed
for promoting workers rights at all stages of the production process.
Women Working Worldwide has begun a programme of work which
aims to:
- Develop a fuller understanding of how global sourcing and subcontracting
operate in the garment industry.
- Find out who is doing relevant research in both Europe and Asia,
including academics, NGOs and trade unions. This may range from
academic accounts of changing international business practices
to local factory based research.
- Facilitate the development of some initial research by other
groups interested in working on these issue both in the UK and
Asia.
- Extend the concept of subcontracting chains to include not
only retail workers but also consumer organisations campaigning
on the rights of workers
- Encourage closer collaboration between relevant individuals
and organisations, whether they be NGOs, trade unionists or academics,
in order to share information and experience.
- Disseminate information to a wider audience of activists/worker
representatives involved in supporting workers rights in the garment
industry.
- Facilitate debate on how organisations representing workers
at different points along subcontracting chains can work together
more effectively.
- Begin to identify effective strategies for supporting the rights
of workers throughout subcontracting chains.
The programme will involve:
Material production
Wider dissemination of information already produced by organisations
and individuals linked to the programme.
The production of new materials as appropriate, including :
- Briefing paper : "International Subcontracting : The new
face of the garment industry". A 4 page document outlining
how international subcontracting works and what the implications
are for workers.
- Diagrams and company profiles. Various subcontracting operations
will be represented in diagrammatic form, together with profiles
of selected companies
- Packs. The above documents will be reworked into appropriate
formats for use by different audiences and compiled into packs
with additional relevant information.
Meetings and Workshops
The main event this year will be :
International Workshop " Organising along international subcontracting
chains in the garment industry " ( Sept 28/29th Manchester)
This will bring together organisers and activists from Asia and
the UK/Europe who are doing work/would like to do work on subcontracting
chains. It will also include academics and other researchers. The
aim is to :
- Share information, including reports of current work.
- Make specific links e.g. between participants from Europe and
Asia or between academics and activists working on the same countries/chains.
- Make proposals for effective organising strategies
- Develop proposals for future work, including further funding
applications.
For copies of the briefing paper and information about the International
Workshop contact : Angela Hale
Women Working Worldwide
Rm 412 Manton Building,
Rosamond St West,
Manchester M15 6LL
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