Cases
Wage struggle continues
Workers need to earn a wage they can live on. In September 2014, yet another action day was organised to underline the claim of Cambodian textile workers to a living wage.
Protest against sexual harrassment results in layoffs
In September 2013, a female worker was fired after fighting back against sexual harassment. The intimidation had started immediately after she began working in the Richa Global factory in Gurgaon, which was producing for Lidl. After seven months of sexual harassment and intimidation at the factory by her supervisor and a quality checker, the female worker fought back and hit both of them with her slippers. When other workers protested against her dismissal, 87 of them were fired too.
A battle won
Four dismissed union members from the Ismaco factory are fighting their cases in court. They were unlawfully fired by the management of the factory because of their membership of the Turkish union Deri-Teks (Deri-Is).
Burmese migrant workers' factory announces closure
Over 500 Burmese migrant workers at the Yuan Jiou factory in Mae Sot, Thailand, were fighting to be paid the minimum wage, for an end to forced overtime and for an employment contract. In the fall of 2014 the factory announced its closure as of December.
Units of Liberty Fashion Wears closed
The Mirpur unit was temporarily closed as of April 2014. Management blamed the closure on low work orders, and said that the facilities would be reopened in two months. During this period of closure the workers' payment should continue. But the factory management has not taken any steps to reopen the factory and pay the workers.
Deadly lunch at supplier NEXT
On 4 September 2014, workers at the NEXT factory in Colombo, Sri Lanka were taken ill with food poisoning. Over 200 workers were admitted to a nearby hospital, where one female worker died on 7 September.
Death threat and harassment of union leaders
There have been serious violations of the freedom to associate in a union at the Shahi Export factory in Karnataka, Southern India.
Union leader tortured
In May 2014 a local union leader of the National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) was found unconscious by the roadside about 45 kilometres from Dhaka.
Continued denial of right to unionise
Workers at a garment factory near Lahore are continuing their fifteen-year struggle against union-busting practices by the factory management.
Chunji workers win right to organize at factory
Garment workers at Chunji Knit Ltd., in Dhaka, Bangladesh, can now freely organize a union, and workers fired for union activity will be reinstated, according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Chunji management and the Bangladesh Federation of Workers Solidarity (BFWS) in August 2014. The agreement follows pressure from the Clean Clothes Campaign, Workers Rights Consortium and Solidarity Center, demanding Chunji Knit and its buyers remediate workers' rights violations earlier this year.
Factory appeals against workers' acquittal
Twelve garment workers who were charged with terrorism after setting up a trade union at a factory of Al Karam Textile Mills saw their acquittal by the Anti-Terrorism Court appealed against by factory management.
Employees replaced by contract workers
The situation at the Modelama Exports factory in North India has not improved. Around 200 workers on permanent contracts were fired or forced to leave due to the lack of overtime hours offered to them. Many have been replaced with contract workers.
KiK still defaulting
A total of 254 workers died and dozens were injured in the fire that destroyed the Ali Enterprises factory in Karachi on September 11 2012. More than two years later, the families of the deceased and injured are yet to receive long-term compensation and justice.
Long-awaited victory
The Clean Clothes Campaign is relieved that the union has reached a settlement with Bratex and Fruit of the Loom in July 2014, after more than three years. The settlement covers all outstanding issues of reinstatement, compensation, withdrawal of criminal charges and a guarantee that freedom of association will be respected in the Sri Lankan underwear factory.
Still failing to pay up
Of the US$ 30 million needed to compensate victims of the devastating Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, only 21 million has been donated so far.
Initial agreement reached on compensation
The fire at the nine-storey Tazreen factory in Dhaka in 2012 killed at least 112 workers, and left hundreds injured. Two years later, an initial agreement on compensation for the victims has been reached.
Violations at outdoor gear factory
Union rights are being violated at the JM TECH factory in Bogor, Indonesia. The factory employs 2,500 workers and produces for outdoor brands Lafuma, Millet, Eider and K2.
Bata dodging responsibility
More than a year after the dismissal of 179 workers at the Palla & Co. footwear factory, the main buyer Bata has refused to meaningfully engage in the resolution of the labour rights conflict.
'Insulting the king': Bail denied
Somyot Pruksakasemsuk's 16th request for bail and temporary release, made in November 2014, has been just turned down by the Supreme Court. Somyot had allegedly insulted the Thai royal family.
Long-running dispute settled?
In November 2014 the management of the SL Garment factory finally signed an agreement with the trade union C.CAWDU, after a long-lasting labour rights dispute and non-implementation of last year’s agreement.