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2010

Update Cambodian Strike

On November 18th Sous Chantha, a trade union leader, was arrested and charged with drug trafficking. Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Unions (C.CAWDU) believes this arrest to be a frame-up in order to disturb his union activities. Sous Chanta risks 2 to 5 years in jail.

Cambodian Trade Union Leader Arrested

This appeal is no longer active.

At least 28 more garment workers die in Bangladeshi factory fire

At least 28 more Bangladeshi garment workers have died and dozens more have been injured when a fire broke out on the 9th and 10th floors of the "That's It Sportswear Ltd" factory just outside the capital Dhaka. Labour rights groups are calling for action: "failure of brands, government and manufacturers to take preventive action condemns more workers to die."

Call for an end to Jeans Sandblasting

Labour rights organisations are calling for a worldwide ban on the sandblasting of jeans. They say that the sandblasting operators who make the finishings on the jeans run unacceptable health risks. According to the organisations, tens of thousands of people working in the jeans industry are at risk of dying.

Killer Jeans - Manifesto to end sandblasting

The Clean Clothes Campaign has launched an appeal on jeans producers to stop sandblasting their products. Sandblasting can cause an acute form of the deadly lung disease silicosis. The practise puts the lives of thousands of sandblasting operators at serious risk. It's often performed in small workshops in the informal sector in jeans-producing countries like Bangladesh, Egypt, China, Turkey, Brazil and Mexico. Almost all of the jeans sold in Europe are produced in these countries. In Turkey alone, 46 documented cases of sandblasters contracting silicosis and dying have been registered. This is likely to be only the tip of the iceberg.

Cambodia wages strike: Sacked workers still waiting for justice

787 Cambodian workers are still waiting for reinstatement almost two months after they were sacked for participating in a strike for better wages. CCC has contacted the major buyers from the factories involved, including Gap, Zara and H&M, to demand that these workers are allowed to return to work immediately.

Over 200 Cambodian trade union leaders suspended or illegally dismissed after mass strike ends

The CCC is asking garment brands and retailers sourcing from Cambodia to ensure that 261 factory unionists who have been unfairly dismissed or suspended from work are immediately reinstated in their factories. The CCC is also deeply concerned about reports of ongoing violence against trade unionists and labour-rights activists, legal threats against organisers, and court-sponsored retaliation against union members.

Cambodian Trade Unionists Locked Out After Mass Strike

Campaigners Call on Fashion Brands to Step in

Garment Workers In Cambodia On Strike

On Thursday 16 September Cambodian union leaders decided to a temporary cessation of a mass strike calling for a living wage of 93 US $. The strike started on Monday 13 September with 60.000 workers but won quickly in importance with 200,000 participating workers in over 90 factories at the moment of cessation. The government invited the unions for a negotiation meeting that will take place on September 27. This is occurring in an on-going climate of threat of retaliation for supporting the striking worker rights.

Bangladesh Labour Activists Released

The Clean Clothes Campaign is very pleased to announce the release of Kalpona Akter, Babul Akhter and Aminul Islam after spending 30 days in custody. During a special hearing on Wednesday September 8, 2010, a magistrate judge granted bail to the three defendants, and ordered their release.

Kidnapped Union Leader Released

Take action now to condemn the kidnapping of a trade union leader at a Marks & Spencer supplier factory in India. The union leader was abducted on August 25 by a gang at the factory grounds where he works. The kidnapping was part of a brutal attack against 60 workers, mostly women. It took place as they arrived for work at the Viva Global factory in Gurgaon, India.

Bangladesh: international concerns about arrests

Labour- and Human-Rights Organisations Call on Government of Bangladesh to Release Worker-Rights Advocates, Fear They Will be Tortured. Leaders of Prominent Labour-Rights Group Were Seized by Police on August 13

Bangladesh labour leaders fearing for physical safety

UPDATE: Recently we informed you about the intimidation and harassment of the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity. On July 30 2010, more criminal cases were filed against the BCWS staff and other worker leaders. On the night of August 12 2010, 20 police officers arrested Kalpona Akter and Babul Akhter. They are still being held in detention. Your urgent support is needed to stop the crackdown on the labour rights organisations.

Bangladesh Labour Organisation Harassed by Government

On June 16 2010, a staff member of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity (BCWS) was detained and severely beaten by Bangladeshi security forces. This occurred just two weeks after BCWS was arbitrarily stripped of its legal status as an NGO. Take action today to support BCWS staff.

Compensation Bangladeshi Fire Victims Inadequate

Trade unions and labour groups in Bangladesh continue their call upon international buyers to ensure the compensation meets the needs of the families of the workers who died in a fire in the Garib & Garib factory in February this year.

Thai Labour Activist Somyot Pruksakasemsuk Released

The Clean Clothes campaign is very pleased that Somyot Prukasakasemsuk has been released, and wants to thank you all very much for your quick action and support!

Thai Labour Advocate arrested

Please contact the Thai authorities today and ask the immediate release of Somyot Pruksakasemsuk. The well-known Thai labour- and human-rights advocate has been arrested following the recent political upheaval in Thailand.

Labour-Rights Organisations Demand Safety in Bangladesh Garment Industry

On the fifth anniversary of the collapse of the Spectrum garment factory in Bangladesh, international labour-rights organisations the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), Maquila Solidarity Network from Canada, and the International Labor Rights Forum (USA) are calling upon companies sourcing garments in Bangladesh to take coordinated measures against structural safety problems in the industry.

Action for safe factories in Bangladesh on 5th anniversary of Spectrum disaster

April 11 marks the fifth anniversary of the collapse of the Spectrum/Shahriyar Sweater factory in Bangladesh, which killed 64 workers and injured 80, 54 of whom were seriously injured. The Spectrum collapse focused global attention on the chronic safety problems in the Bangladesh garment industry. To mark the anniversary of the Spectrum collapse, the CCC, the Maquila Solidarity Network (Canada), and the International Labor Rights Forum (USA) call upon all buyers sourcing garments in Bangladesh to take proactive, sustained, and coordinated measures to help eliminate these systemic problems.

Garib Fire Survivors Call for Justice and a Safe Industry

Following a horrific factory fire that killed 21 employees of a garment factory in Bangladesh, the factory workers are demanding swift reforms, a criminal investigation and compensation for the victims. Support these workers’ demands by writing to the Government of Bangladesh and international fashion brands sourcing from this factory.

Finnish Clean Clothes Campaign Launched

On March 8, 2010, Puhtaat Vaatteet, Clean Clothes Campaign Finland, was launched at a seminar attended by representatives of Finnish clothing brands, journalists and interested consumers. A report on the policies of clothing companies in Finland, which was presented as well, demonstrates that there is much room for improvement in terms of CSR performance.

21 Workers Die at Bangladeshi Factory Fire

Bangladesh unions and international labour rights organisations are calling for immediate action from brands and the government of Bangladesh following a fatal factory fire which killed at least 21 workers and injured a further 50.

Playfair 2012 launches campaign for an ethical London Olympics

On Saturday 27 february, As the Olympic torch was handed on from this year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver to London, the Playfair 2012 coalition launched a campaign for an ethical London Games.

Low Rating for Nike, other Industry Leaders on Labour Rights

Major sportswear brands have taken insufficient action in recent years to improve wages and working conditions for those who produce their goods, this despite making positive statements at the time of the 2008 Olympics about cleaning up an industry rife with worker rights violations, says the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC).

Vancouver Olympics: Sportswear Brands in Trouble

Despite making positive statements at the time of the 2008 Olympics about cleaning up an industry rife with rights violations, major sportswear brands have taken little action since to improve wages and working conditions for the workers who produce their goods.

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