Clean Clothes Campaign

The pandemic, floods, protests and heatwaves - garment workers like Polly are often those who pay the highest price when something unexpected happens. That’s why we’re calling on big fashion brands to set up a severance guarantee fund to ensure workers are paid when factories are forced to close by supply chain disruptions and climate-related events. 🔗 Learn more at payyourworkers.org 🔗 Watch the full documentary here: https://lnkd.in/eGuvwwJe

Less resource and energy use, slower production and consumption, and fairer distribution of economic value; the fashion system clearly needs a radical overhaul. But how do we get there? One-Earth Fashion, a new report published by CCC ally Public Eye, outlines 33 concrete transformation targets for creating a just and sustainable fashion system by 2030. This is not about minor tweaks — it’s about making a transition to a new, just operating system for a fashion industry which equally respects planetary boundaries and workers’ rights. Learn more about how we get there at: https://lnkd.in/e2DF_fPr

Since 2020, the #PayYourWorkers campaign has urged brands to: 1️⃣ pay the workers in their supply chain the severance and stolen wages they are owed 2️⃣ make sure workers are never again left penniless if their factory goes bankrupt, by paying into a severance guarantee fund 3️⃣ protect workers’ right to organise and bargain collectively We have already secured over $10 million in unpaid wages and severance stolen from workers who were fired during the pandemic, but the fight is far from over when: 🫰 Nike workers are owed 2.2m USD in factories in Cambodia & Thailand 🫰Specialized workers are owed over 600K USD in El Salvador 🫰Amazon & adidas workers are owed over 1m USD in Cambodia 🫰Victoria's Secret workers are owed over 5m USD in Thailand This year, we took our message directly to these brands and will keep going to ensure every penny is paid back and they sign our agreement - and for that we need your help. Please support our campaign at payyourworkers.org

Now that we’re nearing the end of 2024, we wanted to reflect on everything we achieved this year with - and because of - you! ✨ Whether you signed a petition, amplified a campaign, reshared a post, showed up for a protest or donated to our cause, thank you for standing in solidarity with garment workers and fighting for fashion justice. We couldn’t do it without you 🫶 Please continue to support our work in 2025 by 1️⃣ Signing up to our mailing list for campaign updates & actions: https://lnkd.in/e2BTDgAh 2️⃣ Making a donation to keep international solidarity going: https://lnkd.in/ey4tNfGM

Zara is greenwashing the highway to hell 🔥 A new Context Newsroom documentary building on Public Eye’s research found that, despite its sustainability targets, Zara’s parent company Inditex has dramatically increased its use of dirtier, more expensive air transport in the last few years to ship clothes from manufacturers to warehouses and stores around the world. Not only does this come with a huge environmental cost, it ramps up the pressure garment workers already face to produce clothes as quickly as possible, at times working overtime shifts with delayed payments and under harassment. In the global fashion industry, it’s no coincidence that exploited workers are also the ones on the frontlines of the climate crisis caused by the same industry that exploits them. This documentary is further proof that we urgently need a just transition that puts workers at the centre, pays living wages for survival and provides protection from climate-related factory closures and disruptions. 🔗 Watch the full documentary here: https://lnkd.in/eGuvwwJe

Festive greetings from Clean Clothes Campaign 🎄 What’s on your solidarity wish list this year? #PayYourWorkers #EnoughPovertyWages

On Interational Migrants Day, we published our criticism of a recent report about a severe case of wage theft of Burmese migrant workers in a factory in Thailand in Nike's supply chain, on which we have been working for many years. In a report that came out last week Fair Labor Association justifies the employers calling the police on a migrant worker who complained online against being forced to sign away his wages, and claims that the 3000 workers who did part with their wages in this abusing environment, did so consensually. Legitimatising these kinds of abuses against migrant workers puts all migrant workers, who already have an extremely vulnerable position in garment supply chains, at risk. Here is our statement: https://lnkd.in/eVKCvJ59 #PayYourWorkers

Today is #InternationalMigrantsDay - a good time to remind Nike to pay 3,000 mostly Burmese migrant workers the wages they were cheated out of in their Thai factory more than four years ago ‼️ In the fashion industry, migrant workers are particularly vulnerable to workplace exploitation. In addition to low pay and long working hours, they often experience debt bondage, threats of violence and deportation, and face specific barriers to voicing and demanding their rights. Nike recognises this on its website but its words are at complete odds with its actions. Protecting migrant workers’ rights starts with paying the Hong Seng workers the over 800,000 USD they are legally owed. Yet instead of taking responsibility, Nike continues to commission reports and hire consultants to hide behind. Last week, yet another report, this time published by the Nike founded and funded Fair Labor Association, came to the outrageous conclusion that workers were not coerced into consenting to sign away their wages. Despite worker complaints to the Thai government and their other attempts at bravely fighting for their desperately needed wages during the pandemic, the FLA are backing up Nike’s claim that this is what free consent looks like. The report even denies that the factory reporting a Burmese migrant leader to the police because of his Facebook post speaking out against the wage theft scheme was retaliation, instead concluding it was the right thing to do?! Yet again, Nike refuses to believe its own workers and instead pours money into public excuses. The easier choice would just be paying the workers what they are owed. 📣 Call on Nike to #PayYourWorkers at https://lnkd.in/d4hXjHT

Behind REI’s “Life Outdoors” – A Hidden Crisis in the Supply Chain At first glance, REI appears to be a leader in corporate social responsibility, touting commitments to human rights, environmental sustainability, and inclusivity. But a new report uncovers stark discrepancies between their promises and reality. Key findings include: - Forced labor: Migrant workers in Taiwan reported being trapped in debt bondage and inhumane living conditions. - Poverty wages: Workers in key supplier countries like Cambodia and Vietnam earn far below a living wage, struggling to meet even basic needs. - Union-busting: In Cambodia, union leaders at a bicycle factory were fired after organizing against forced overtime. One worker shared, “I support my mother and daughter on my salary. I work as much overtime as possible, but we still can’t afford basic necessities like chicken or beef.” Despite uncovering numerous labor violations, REI has failed to provide evidence of meaningful intervention or remedy for affected workers. Meanwhile, other brands sourcing from the same factories have stepped up where REI has not. The outdoor industry should reflect the values of sustainability and community it espouses. REI can and must do better. Read the full report by CCC network organisation SILS to learn more and join the call for accountability: https://lnkd.in/ejUtg53R

Another year of collective action, solidarity & memes! #SpotifyWrapped ✋ Clean Clothes Campaign is a worker-led global network fighting to improve the working conditions in the fashion industry. Please support our work by: 1️⃣ Signing up to our mailing list for campaign updates & actions: cleanclothes.org/subscribe 2️⃣ Making a donation to keep international solidarity going: cleanclothes.org/donate