Right now, clothes you buy from UK high street brands like H&M, Zara and Uniqlo are made by some of the millions of garment workers who work up to 18 hours a day, 6 days a week. These garment workers, who are mainly women, work in dangerous conditions for a wage that doesn't even cover their rent.
In Sri Lanka, one of the world's biggest garment producers, many of the factories are in fenced off, militarised, free trade zones across the country. This is done deliberately to stop women from learning about their rights and coming together to fight for better working conditions.
Sri Lanka has laws that require all workers to have the right to organise collectively in their workplaces. But international fashion brands who say they care about workers' rights, know that the reality for the workers driving their profits are long hours, poverty pay and dangerous working conditions. Fashion brands are able to control the production of their clothes down to the last stitch – so they must take responsibility for basic rights in their supplier factories.
The ongoing work of War on Want's partner Free Trade Zones & General Services Employees Union (FTZ&GSEU) has been vital in raising awareness of workers' rights. Thanks to training, garment workers are now refusing to accept unsafe working conditions or abuse by their bosses. Together they are fighting back, like the women union leaders pictured above, demanding an increase to their minimum wage. The biggest changes in factory conditions have been fought and won by workers themselves.
Let's show garment workers that we stand with them in their fight for decent work. Please add your name and we'll send you a free badge to show your support for the people who make your clothes.
