Polo Ralph Lauren & Tommy Hilfiger ignore serious labour-rights violations at one of its suppliers in Indonesia. Support the workers that make our clothes. Write to these brands today!

Despite continued efforts to communicate with the Polo Ralph Lauren corporation about ongoing worker-rights violations at an Indonesian supplier, the US fashion house remains tight-lipped and refuses to undertake action. Tommy Hilfiger, that also has clothes produced at the same Indonesian factory, recently showed willingness to engage on the matter, and get their house in order. However, despite a meeting with the Indonesian trade union and words of good intentions, nothing concrete materialised to show that they took any effective measures.

The trade-union violations continue at this Indonesian factory, and workers report an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.

Workers at the PT Mulia Knitting Factory just outside the Indonesian capital Jakarta had been facing unfair and dangerous working conditions for years, when they established an independent workers union at the factory in 2007. They were not satisfied with the lack of action on the part of an existing factory union, that was deemed too "management-friendly". However, as soon as the new union was established, the members came under heavy pressure by the management to resign from the union or be sacked or transferred to a location far away.

See: www.workersrights.org for a report by the Worker Rights Consortium's detailing evidence that these union leaders and members have been subjected to targeted, unlawful discrimination.

Please write letters to those responsible at Polo Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger:

LETTER TO Polo Ralph Lauren

Target:
David Uricoli, Senior Director of Global Compliance,

Dear Sir,

I have learned that workers at one of your suppliers, PT Mulia Knitting Factory (MKF) in Indonesia, have been denied their right to freedom of association. Founders and members of the SBGTS-GSBI workers' union, established at the factory in May 2007, have been forced to resign from the union or be removed from the factory.

Unsafe and bad working conditions in the factory make the issue of workers' representation all the more urgent.

The Clean Clothes Campaign informed me that until now, your company has refused any communications on this matter with the CCC, despite their regular efforts to contact you.

As you know, with today's globalised production patterns, manufacturers and retailers who order their goods from suppliers worldwide are increasingly aware of their overall supply-chain responsibilities.

In this framework, I urge you to make sure that Polo Ralph Lauren does everything in its power to address the problems at your Indonesian supplier.

Specifically I urge you to use your influence and assure that MKF:

1 - offers immediate reinstatement to all workers who were wrongfully dismissed or transferred because of their refusal to disassociate themselves from SBGTS-GSBI and continue to fight for their rights. The reinstatement should include compensation for salary arrears since the date of their dismissal or transfer. The workers should be reemployed at their previous positions in the factory with no loss of seniority and no reduction in salary;

2 - respects the right of their workers to Freedom of Association, and issues a statement to the work force, verbally and in writing, stating that the factory will respect the rights of workers join any organisation of their choosing, be it an NGO or a labour union, and that no worker will be fired, demoted, transferred or the subject of retaliation of any other kind for the decision that he or she makes. In that statement, the MKF management must clarify that the legally registered SBGTS-GSBI union is considered a legitimate entity.

Rather than denying the CCC any chance at communication, I further urge you to see the Campaign as a possible partner, that has specific expertise in matters relating to worker rights and working conditions in the global textiles supply chains. Fashion companies that show genuine willingness to respect the rights of the people who produce their clothes can count on the support and collaboration of the CCC in designing and implementing pragmatic solutions.

Hoping for your cooperation in bringing these matters to a swift resolution,

yours sincerely,

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LETTER TO Tommy Hilfiger

Targets:
- Fred Gehring, CEO Tommy Hilfiger Group BV,
- Ludo Onnink, COO Tommy Hilfiger Group BV,
- Cc. Dr. A. Kranz, VP European Legal Affairs, Tommy Hilfiger Europe BV

Dear Sirs,

I understand from information provided by the Clean Clothes Campaign that Tommy Hilfiger has dragged its feet rather than decisively acting on reports of serious labour-rights violations at one of your suppliers, PT Mulia Knitting Factory (MKF) in Indonesia.

Despite months of communications with the CCC and a meeting with the Indonesian trade union involved, and despite Tommy Hilfiger's stated commitment to solving the problems at their supplier, your apparent efforts have not lead to any concrete results in the factory.

I have learned that workers at the factory have been denied their right to Freedom of Association. Founders and members of the SBGTS-GSBI workers' union, established at the factory in May 2007, have been forced to resign from the union or be removed from the factory.

Unsafe and bad working conditions in the factory make the issue of workers' representation all the more urgent.

As you know, with today's globalised production patterns, manufacturers and retailers who order their goods from suppliers worldwide are increasingly aware of their overall supply-chain responsibilities.

In this framework, I urge you to make sure that Tommy Hilfiger does everything in its power to address the problems at your Indonesian supplier.

Specifically I urge you to use your influence and assure that MKF:

1 - offers immediate reinstatement to all workers who were wrongfully dismissed or transferred because of their refusal to disassociate themselves from SBGTS-GSBI and continue to fight for their rights. The reinstatement should include compensation for salary arrears since the date of their dismissal or transfer. The workers should be reemployed at their previous positions in the factory with no loss of seniority and no reduction in salary;

2 - respects the right of their workers to Freedom of Association, and issues a statement to the work force, verbally and in writing, stating that the factory will respect the rights of workers join any organisation of their choosing, be it an NGO or a labour union, and that no worker will be fired, demoted, transferred or the subject of retaliation of any other kind for the decision that he or she makes. In that statement, the MKF management must clarify that the legally registered SBGTS-GSBI union is considered a legitimate entity.

Hoping for your cooperation in bringing these matters to a swift resolution,

yours sincerely,