Media release September 17, 2014
In early October, the Labor Advisory Committee in Cambodia is to announce a new minimum wage for workers in the garment, textile and footwear industry, which generates US$5 billion in revenue for the country.
According to Tailored Wages Report – Are the Big Brands Paying the People Who Make Our Clothes Enough to Live On? published by the Clean Clothes Campaign and the Asia Floor Wage Alliance on March 2014, only four of 50 big brand multinational clothing and footwear companies contacted were able to demonstrate they had taken any steps that might lead to improved wages for the Cambodian workers who make many of their expensive fashion products.
The report also pointed out that none of the companies surveyed are as yet paying a living wage to these workers.
A call for global solidarity action on September 17 follows Cambodian unions’ general strike to increase the national minimum wage in January, in which 5 workers were killed, 40 seriously injured and 25 workers arrested.
“Despite the violence and repression, Cambodian garment workers are continuing to fight to lift the minimum wage from US$100 to US$177/month for workers who produce for international brands like Levi’s, Adidas and GAP who profit from the poverty wages and sweatshop conditions in Cambodia”, says Joyce Fu, the organiser of a solidarity action to be held in Sydney.
The action – organised mainly through internet social networks took place at12 noon today outside the Westfield Shopping Centre in the heart of Sydney’s central shopping district.
Protest against multinational clothing brands exploiting Cambodian garment workers (Photo taken by Sergio Leyva Seiglie)
Australian trade unionists have also held a protest in Canberra outside the Cambodian Embassy on the same day at 11 am.
“For demonstration in Sydney today, we do commend ZARA/Inditex for being one of the four big brands who have taken some steps to make sure their workers are paid a living wage and have freedom of association, based on the findings of the Tailored Wages Report. We will further encourage them to take the lead on helping trade unions’ negotiation with Government on the raise of minimum wages.”
Joyce Fu says, “Our main targets are GAP, Adidas, Levi’s and Puma. Especially GAP, for its little proof of real work that will improve wages for workers making its clothes, and Levi’s, for doing very little to directly combat wage issues in its supply chain.
According to the Tailored Wages Report, GAP scored only 6 out of 40, Adidas scored only 10 out of 40, Puma scored 12 and Levi’s didn’t even respond to the survey.
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