Retail Brands Avoid Responsibility

 The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an unprecedented economic emergency among garment factory workers when the retail brands began cutting orders and refusing to pay for those already in production. The result has been mass job losses and pay reductions.

The extreme vulnerability of garment workers was highlighted because they are located in countries that often offer no social security or safety nets.  They are desperate, unable to pay rent or support their families.

 The first missed paycheque immediately sent many families from poverty into destitution. Workers are in need of immediate relief cannot and cannot wait for protections to be put into place.

In April 2020 industry stakeholders launched a Call to Action (CtA)  as a coordinated response. Some of the brands that have signed the CtA are now using it to excuse their ongoing inaction. Progress has been painstakingly slow.  The CtA announced “successes” in Bangladesh, where the European Union and the German government committed 113 million euros ($135m). It led to less than 2,000 workers receiving direct income support.

The industry hide behind initiatives that use public money to fill the gaps they have wilfully profited from for decades. Instead, they should reach into their own pockets to address the issues in their own supply chains.

The garment industry is ignoring the plight of its workers | Opinions News | Al Jazeera