Help the Apparel Industry Start 2008 on a Clean Footing

Because everyone has bad habits

Coming up with a new year’s resolution is tricky business – aim too high, and you risk disappointing yourself and others. Aim too low, and nothing ever gets better. Fighting procrastination is a perennial challenge, and temptation lies around every corner.

For the apparel industry, finding an ideal way to kick off 2008 is even trickier business. With the number of individuals and amount of money involved, procrastination and temptation increases dramatically. The industry needs to focus on the most important issues. That’s where you come in.

What issues matter to you?

In 2007, our staff and our network fought on many fronts to hold international apparel brands accountable for the labour rights abuses in their supply chains. Some of them responded positively, and some of them lagged behind – severely. But all of them could use improvement. So MSN has assembled a list of New Years resolutions we think the apparel industry must make – and keep – in 2008.

But you know how it is – if you don’t make priorities, things don’t get done. So we’d like your help in prioritizing these resolutions for the apparel industry. Please tell us which 3 resolutions should be the top priorities for the apparel industry in 2008.

Respect workers’ right to freely associate and bargain collectively

The apparel industry has a long way to go on this. Workers at the Vaqueros Navarra jean factory in Puebla, Mexico, for example, have been trying to join a union of their choosing, but they have been met with harassment, abuse, and forced dismissal. Vaqueros Navarra produces jeans for numerous high-profile brands including Guess, Tommy Hilfiger, and Work-Rite (Dickies).

» More about Vaqueros Navarra [1]
» More about Freedom of Association [2]

If a closure is unavoidable, treat workers responsibly

A factory closure is bad enough, but many apparel workers also get cheated out of back pay, severance pay, health benefits and other legal rights when production gets relocated. Brands and manufacturers must avoid factory closures and be held accountable for what they owe the workers and communities they leave behind.

» More about Closures and what can be done about them [3]

Pay workers a living wage

Many garment workers find their weekly wage packet is not enough to meet the basic needs of themselves and their families, despite often working extremely long hours.

» More about Wages [4]

Engage in constructive dialogue with workers and other stakeholders

Some companies still don’t get it – they think they can silence workers and their allies. International jeans manufacturer Fibre and Fabrics International and their subsidiary Jeans Knit PVT Ltd, for example, are suing the Clean Clothes Campaign and the India Committee of the Netherlands for drawing attention to worker rights violations at their Indian garment factory. Apparel companies need to learn to work with trade unions, NGOs and human rights organizations to fix problems – not try to silence the messengers.

» More about the Fibre and Fabrics case [5]

Stop forcing employees to work excessive hours

In 2007, an explosive report on factories making Olympics-branded products in China found that workers were forced to work 13 hour days with few, if any, days off per month. “We’re so exhausted, trying to get the ‘Olympic bags’ done in time! To hell with the Olympics product, I am so tired,” said one worker.

» More about Olympics-branded goods [5]

Adopt fair purchasing practices

It's all connected: sudden cancellations or last-minute changes in orders can cause excessive overtime for workers. Downward pressure on prices paid to the suppliers who manufacture apparel and sportswear can impact the ability of suppliers to pay a living wage and to meet minimum labour standards at their factories. Can the apparel industry change its practices from top to bottom?

» More about Purchasing practices [6]

Give consumers, investors and workers the straight goods

MSN and the Ethical Trading Action Group have rated top apparel companies on how well they inform potential customers, investors and workers about labour practices in their supply chains. The results? Despite some notable efforts by some companies, there is room for improvement all around.

» More about Transparency [7]