Mightly’s Post

Stop Uyghur Genocide urges UK financial regulator to block Shein’s London stock market listing 🚫💷   The online fast-fashion retailer Shein has initiated the process for a potential London IPO. But Stop Uyghur Genocide is now urging the UK's financial regulator to block Shein's listing unless it can be assured that the company's products are not tainted by forced labour. Stop Uyghur Genocide concerns that Shein may use suppliers within the Uyghur Region and, therefore, benefit from Uyghur forced labour in its supply chain.    https://lnkd.in/en43Pw9E Previous investigations (https://lnkd.in/epg3UYJ9) have revealed that some of Shein’s employees work 18 hours a day, with only one day off per month. Workers receive wages of 3p per item produced, work to meet strict quotas, and are fined up to three-quarters of their daily salary for making mistakes. This highlights the exploitative fast fashion business model, which drives down costs and wages, obscures the reality of the cost of garments, and labels garments as disposable to consumers. Shein has not verified the disclosure of its supply chain, so we cannot be assured that it is not benefiting from forced labour.    📣We urge the The Financial Conduct Authority to consider a company’s human rights and environmental track record as part of its due diligence. This could be a powerful tool to improve company practice and help drive meaningful human rights and environmental due diligence by investors when identifying which companies to invest in.   While some countries have introduced, or are introducing, mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence laws, and controls, the UK has no such laws. UK consumers cannot be assured that products from many companies have not been made with forced labour. Therefore, we urgently need the UK Government to introduce a Business, Human Rights and Environment Act and an import controls law so that the UK does not become a “dumping ground” for goods made with forced labour. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/en43Pw9E #bizhumanrights #modernslavery #duediligence #shein #forcedlabour

Skechers' supplier, Dongguan Oasis Shoes, just got added to the Department of Homeland Security's list for using forced labor from the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. 🌍❌ https://lnkd.in/gffuiFa7 This isn't a small deal. They're now banned from importing goods into the U.S., joining other companies like Shandong Meijia Group and Xinjiang Shenhuo Coal and Electricity. 📦🛑 Skechers says they don't expect this to impact their business much, but this isn’t the first time they've faced such claims. Back in 2020, a report pointed fingers at their supplier for forced labor conditions. Skechers did their audits and found no issues, but did confirm Uyghur workers were employed under compliant terms. 🕵️♂️ This shows how crucial it is to keep our supply chains sustainable and ethical. Forced labor is a huge issue affecting many industries, from cars to fashion. Keep your supply chain clean and compliant! Rezylient is here to help you tackle these challenges and champion ethical sourcing. Let's connect and make a difference together. 🤝 https://lnkd.in/gY8JTTzh https://lnkd.in/gvwJJYU5 #SustainableSourcing #LaborRights #SupplyChainEthics #ComplianceMatters #GlobalTradeStandards #Rezylient #Floratrace

Responsible business asks global buyers to support, not to leave the supply chain partners in critical time! Global brands simply cannot leave their long term Bangladeshi supply partners when they need assistance most. They just cannot simply cancel orders when local factories are passing difficult times. Responsible business requires that global brands and retailers will support their local suppliers both financially and technically when they need, to promote human rights, to ensure labour rights and to promote sustainability (The 2004 Global Compact Report, "Who Cares Wins"). The recent EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive 2024 requires that the global buyers( EU-based businesses) will cancel their contracts or orders as a last resort in consideration of human rights protection of workers. If global brands continue to cancel orders at these odd times, it will heavily hurt our RMG workers. The already dimming light of their basic human rights/labor rights will be off into deep darkness!

Thank you Business & Human Rights Resource Centre and Clean Clothes Campaign for this! The report, based on interviews, focus group discussions and a survey among trade unions and labour advocates, outlines a concerning landscape for worker representation across six major garment-producing countries in South and Southeast Asia: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This is embodied by the utilisation of alternative representation structures such as workplace committees to “tick the freedom of association box”, over support for trade unions and their right to collectively bargain. It highlights how pervasive union busting to undermine the role and effectiveness of trade unions, alongside the promotion of alternative structures unable to improve terms and conditions, allows for the perpetuation of a business model that relies on tight margins for suppliers and low worker wages along the fashion supply chain.

Big news!!! The EU has taken a groundbreaking step with a new regulation to ban products made with forced labor. This landmark decision not only redefines trade norms but also shines a spotlight on the importance of transparency and ethics in production. 🚫🏭 For slow fashion and DIY fashion enthusiasts, this regulation underscores the importance of ethical sourcing and production and aligns with the values of slow fashion, emphasizing quality, sustainability, and ethical practices over the unchecked consumption propagated by fast fashion brands. The EU's stance not only protects human rights but also empowers consumers and creators to make informed choices, supporting a fashion industry that respects both people and the planet, and should act as a call to action for all of us! 🌿✨ Why does this matter for us, the fiber arts community? 🧵 We champion transparency in every material. 💖 We support fairly paid artisans. 🌱 We're committed to sustainability. https://lnkd.in/dqfXbsnC #EthicalCrafting #SustainableChoices #FiberArts #EURegulations #Spindle #Kanna

The U.S. Department of Labor welcomes the historic deal between global brands, including the US-based PVH Corp., and IndustriALL Global Union that will improve wages in Cambodia’s garment and footwear sector. Under this legally binding agreement, brands have committed to increasing wages in accordance with future collective bargaining agreements between Cambodian trade unions and garment manufacturing companies. Key components of the agreement include: -Ensuring their sourcing practices do not undercut future wage increases. -Sourcing from participating factories which will support brand efforts to improve due diligence and stable supply chains. This agreement builds on the precedent of the Bangladesh Accord and establishes a model of outcomes-focused #duediligence for #laborrights in #globalsupplychains that centers #workervoice as part of the solution. We hope to see more companies come on board. Actions like this complement our efforts, and efforts by partner governments, to uphold labor rights at the national and global levels. https://lnkd.in/ehK2Y2Rp #Cambodia #WorkersWages #CorporateAccountability

KnowTheChain's new report on forced labor in supply chains shows that  despite pouring millions of dollars into corporate social responsibility measures, many brands still fail to address forced labor in their supply chains. The historic 2022 Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment has enabled women garment workers including many Dalit or migrant workers to remediate and prevent caste and gender-based violence and harassment through a worker-led, union-supported program that rebalences workplace power with the support of brand business leverage. The agreement provides a blueprint for brands to work with unions and suppliers to eradicate forced labor in their supply chains. After extensive investigation, the US Government has found that the historic Dindigul Agreement successfully remediates forced labor. Not only does the Dindigul Agreement uphold human rights for garment workers, but it also demonstrated a successful collaboration between civil society, worker rights organizations, and business by helping to quickly lift the U.S. Customs and Border Protection order blocking imports from Natchi Apparel (P) Ltd, after the company addressed forced labor violations in compliance with the Dindigul Agreement. “Combatting these inhumane practices is a moral and economic imperative and a challenge we must confront with a whole-of-society approach,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas upon lifting the order blocking Natchi Apparel Ltd imports. “This modification not only reflects the critical role of CBP, but it is also a testament to the important advancements made by trade unions, worker rights organizations, and workers themselves who are bravely organizing to improve their working conditions.”  Brands that are serious about remediating and preventing forced labor should adopt the Dindigul Agreement today so they don’t end up at the bottom of KnowTheChain’s 2025 report. Link in the comments.

It's 2024 and we are still tackling cotton slavery... "Forced labour, child labour, poor working conditions, and threats to collective bargaining, the ability to join a trade union and freedom of expression are common in the cotton industry in many parts of the world." "$468 billion of garment imports in the G20 are at risk of modern slavery. In 2022 U.S. banned goods from China's autonomous Uyghur region. EU is planning a Ban on Forced Labour regulation and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.

🔍 Breaking News 🔍 Did you catch the recent report on the Financial Times? 📰 US Senator has urged the UK to investigate Shein's labor practices ahead of its IPO. ⚖️ This news has sparked widespread concern about the treatment of workers in the fashion industry. As professionals in the business world, it's essential for us to stay informed about these critical issues. Let's keep a close eye on this developing story and advocate for fair and ethical labor practices🌍. Join the conversation and share your thoughts on this pressing matter. #FairLaborPractices #CorporateEthics #FashionIndustryConcerns https://ift.tt/nLUcxzy

It's high time that #fashion #brands, #buyers, and #activists step up and stop turning a blind eye to the conditions in their partner production country #Bangladesh. While most are flaunting their business trips and socializing in exclusive diplomat clubs, the real issues on the ground are being ignored. The recent deaths of freedom fighters, student protesters and garment workers during protests highlight the urgent need for action. Instead of focusing on superficial engagements, it’s essential to extend production timelines, work closely with suppliers, and refuse to demand discounts on delayed orders. Labor leaders in Bangladesh are calling for an end to wage reductions, ensuring timely wage payments without layoffs, and safeguarding worker security. #showup