Sydney to Join Global Protest at Big Brand Fashion Labels

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.

Flyer for Customers

“Sydney Stands with Cambodian Garment Workers”

Are GAP and Adidas profiting off sweatshop abuse in Cambodia?

In Cambodia, the women and men who sew clothes for Gap, Levi’s, Adidas, Puma, H&M , ZARA and other major brands struggle to make ends meet. The legal minimum wage for garment workers is a miserablewage of $100 per month. Thousands of workers have fainted at their sewing machines owing to factors including malnutrition, overwork, heat, poor ventilation, and fumes from chemicals used in the manufacturing process. Earlier this year, when over 200,000 Cambodian workers stood up to demand a fairer wage, authorities shot five workers dead in the streets and threw 24 union activists in jail.

Cambodian Garment Workers in Protest

Consumers don’t want clothes tainted with exploitation and repression.

On September 17th, garments workers in Cambodia are demonstrate at their workplaces for a raise to $177 per month – the minimum needed to cover basic needs according to a government-appointed task force. Join us to demand justice for Cambodian workers!

For more info: www.union-league.org/cambodia177

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Fair Wages for Fair Work

Many world famous apparel brands are produced in Cambodia, including (but not limited to) H&M, Zara, Puma, Levi’s,  Adidas/Reebok, Old Navy/GAP, C&A and Walmart.  These brands are known globally for their quality, attractiveness and price. Their CEOs such as GAP Inc. earned up to US$19 million per year – sometimes a thousand times more per hour than the workers in their retail stores, and far more than that when compared to the garment workers’ wages. Furthermore, these companies make tremendous annual profits such as Adidas made of approximately US$1.5 billion and H&M made about US$2.62 billion in 2013.

The Cambodian Garment Workers Fashion Show “Beautiful Clothes, Ugly Reality!” (25 May 2014)

Cambodia’s textile industry employs about 700,000 workers, and most are young women migrating from rural areas. They work 10 to 12 hours a day, six or seven days a week, earning a minimum wage of US$100 per month. Compared to the brand companies, workers in the factories only get tiny. Based on a government calculation of the minimum wage needed to cover basic necessities in Cambodia, US$177 per month is demanded for survival.

Garment workers want dignity and a decent living, just like everyone else. A living wage of $177 per month and better working conditions have been advocated by the labor unions. However, these demands have been ignored. Instead workers face horrible treatment from the government and security forces such as repression, imprisonment, and even deadly violence.

Garment workers in Cambodia deserve to live in dignity and receive a fair wage. Poverty wages mean that many workers are undernourished and compelled to work exhausting overtime hours to survive. The income gap between garment workers and the selected CEOs of brand companies needs to be closed.

Please join the International Call to Action: Fight for a Living Wage in Solidarity with Cambodian Garment Workers on Sep 17. Please find a place near you.