I've just returned from the Outdoor Industry's Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, where collaboration was the key word. At least for the brands on show there. I was fortunate to be among the brands who formed the OIA working Group on labor compliance many years ago, and I'm still part of it. We have collectively created a set of tools, including a code of conduct, to get brands started with a policy and a process if they do not already have either. There were also seminars created and training sessions to help brands improve on what they already have.
The existing tools can be downlaoded from the
OIA website and the new updated tools will go live in October 2013.
If you don't already have a policy, you are way behind the leaders.
Now it just wouldn't feel right if I didn't add some news on recent labor conflicts, so here you are.
The good part of all of this is the empowerment of workers to take matters into their own hands.
This report is from Richard Woodard, from Just-style magazine
Workers at a shuttered
apparel factory in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh are maintaining a
24-hour vigil at the facility, claiming they are owed US$200,000 in
unpaid wages and benefits.
The workers – who hope to catch the managers if they return to
collect machinery or other assets – believe the Kingsland factory
closure in December was engineered to enable a new factory to open,
employing temporary workers without union representation.
Now a number of international labour rights organisations, including Clean Clothes Campaign, are supporting the workers.
They are calling on retailers Walmart and H&M
– which they say were supplied with underwear by Kingsland – to ensure
that Kingsland pays all monies owed in accordance with Cambodian labour
law.
The statement, signed by 17 organisations from around the world, also
urges “immediate and transparent” investigations to be carried out by
the retailers.
