The Cambodian government is failing to protect garment workers from labor rights abuses, according to a March 2015 report from Human Rights Watch. The report details forced overtime, inadequate rest time, and underage child workers in Cambodian factories that produce clothing for popular US brands like The GAP.
Such violations are often difficult for US companies to detect because of a lack of transparency in their supply chain: To fill orders, large Cambodian factories will subcontract work with smaller operations that are less closely monitored.
In fact, some of the worst offenders of workers' rights are these smaller factories, which are not licensed to export goods and not directly contracted by The GAP or other major US brands.
With the Cambodian government reportedly failing to act in the interest of the country's garment workers, The GAP and other US companies must do more to ensure that the products they sell are ethically manufactured. To further improve transparency and accountability, The Gap should also make public its list of suppliers, as companies like Adidas have done.
Please sign the petition now and urge The GAP to step up monitoring and compliance efforts of the vendors the company contracts with directly and to expand reporting and accountability measures to factories that are subcontracted to manufacture the products that the Gap sells.
Mr. Peck:
Time and time again, The GAP has reiterated its commitment to human rights and ending child labor. Unfortunately, a March report by Human Rights Watch finds that the Cambodian government is largely failing to find and prosecute violations of labor laws and undermining your company's efforts to ensure ethical sourcing of the goods you sell.
Your most recent publicly available data shows a disturbing increase in the percentage of factories requiring action to comply with your stated Code of Vendor Conduct -- from 10.3% in 2009 to 19.9% in 2013.This increase may be explained by improved monitoring, but behind these numbers are everyday labor and rights violations that impact the lives of workers across Cambodia and must be stopped.
As you are aware, many of the worst labor conditions persist in small factories that are subcontracted by your suppliers and not necessarily subject to monitoring and compliance actions by your partners at Better Factories Cambodia.
With the Cambodian government largely failing to act, we the undersigned believe that your company must do more to ensure that the products you sell are ethically manufactured. To further improve transparency and accountability, The Gap should also make public its list of suppliers, as companies like Adidas have done.
[Your comments here]
We strongly urge you to work with Better Factories Cambodia to step up monitoring and compliance efforts of the vendors you contract with directly and to expand these accountability measures to the factories that are subcontracted by your vendors.
Thank you for considering our comments.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
