About Labour behind the label
Labour Behind the Label: A Global Movement for Garment Workers' Rights
Fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry that touches the lives of millions of people around the world. From high-end designer labels to fast fashion brands, clothing has become an integral part of our daily lives. However, behind the glitz and glamour of fashion lies a dark reality - one that involves exploitation, abuse, and injustice towards garment workers who make our clothes.
Labour Behind the Label is a non-profit organization that aims to change this reality by campaigning for garment workers' rights worldwide. Founded in 2001, Labour Behind the Label has been at the forefront of advocating for better working conditions, fair wages, and human rights for those who work in factories and sweatshops across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The organization's mission is simple yet powerful - to stand together with people around the world who make our clothes. By raising awareness about labor abuses in the fashion industry and pressuring companies to take responsibility for their supply chains, Labour Behind the Label seeks to create a more just and sustainable future for all.
Labour Behind The Label's Campaigns
Labour Behind The Label runs several campaigns aimed at improving working conditions in factories across different countries:
1) Living Wage Campaign: This campaign focuses on ensuring that garment workers receive a living wage - one that covers their basic needs such as food, housing, healthcare etc. Currently many factory workers earn less than minimum wage which makes it impossible to live with dignity.
2) Transparency Campaign: This campaign calls on brands to be transparent about their supply chains so consumers can know where their clothes are made under what conditions.
3) Gender Justice Campaign: This campaign highlights gender-based violence against women garment workers which is prevalent in many factories across Asia especially Bangladesh where women are often subjected to sexual harassment or assault by male supervisors or co-workers.
4) Covid-19 Response Campaign: During Covid-19 pandemic Labour behind The Label has been working to support garment workers who have lost their jobs or are facing wage cuts due to the pandemic.
Labour Behind The Label's Impact
Over the years, Labour Behind the Label has achieved significant impact in improving working conditions for garment workers. Some of its notable achievements include:
1) Pressuring brands such as H&M, Primark, and Zara to sign up for the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety after Rana Plaza disaster in 2013 which killed over 1100 people.
2) Supporting campaigns that led to minimum wage increases for garment workers in Cambodia and Bangladesh.
3) Advocating for better health and safety standards in factories across Asia which resulted in improved fire safety measures, better ventilation systems etc.
4) Providing legal aid and support to victims of labor abuses such as forced labor or human trafficking.
Conclusion
Labour Behind the Label is a global movement that seeks to create a more just and sustainable fashion industry. By campaigning for garment workers' rights worldwide, it aims to hold brands accountable for their supply chains while empowering factory workers with knowledge about their rights. With its focus on transparency, gender justice, living wages etc., Labour Behind The Label is making a real difference in improving working conditions across different countries. If you care about ethical fashion then supporting this organization can be one way of contributing towards creating a fairer world where everyone can live with dignity.