Labour Behind The Label

Asda has its sights trained on becoming Britain’s number one cheap fashion retailer. But while the company tries leaping ahead of its rivals on the high street, it’s falling behind in its efforts to improve conditions for women workers in poor countries, whose wages are keeping them trapped in poverty.

Addressing a company's purchasing practices is a key issue, an area where huge changes are recommended by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC).  This report by CCC covers working conditions within factories supplying the top 5 global retailers: Tesco, Walmart (Asda), Lidl, Aldi, Carrefour and the lack of sufficient action to address them.

One of LBL's series of occasional briefings, this covers the garment industry in Nicaragua.  Nicaragua is one of many countries producing clothes for the global garment industry.  Across the world the garment industry is experiencing increasing competition and ever greater demands from buyers for cheaper, more flexible and faster production.  The industry also exists in a context shaped by recent and ongoing changes to international trade regulations.  Though these are being negotiated by governments at the highest level, it is the workers on the front line who are feeling the effects.  This briefing covers how recent global trade rules are affecting Nicaragua and their impacts on the mainly women workers producing the clothes.

One of LBL's series of occasional briefings, this covers the garment industry in China. China is now the world's biggest exporter of textiles and garments. Its factories supply almost all UK high street shops and its market share is predicted to increase over the coming years. This briefing provides an overview of the Chinese garment industry, the situation for garment workers and recent developments influencing the sector.

Over the years, companies have developed a variety of responses to evidence of labour rights abuses in their supply chains.  Most began by denying that they had any responsibility for poor working conditions, saying that didn't own the factories that produced the goods they sold. Some even denied that working conditions were poor at all.

"The retailers and their suppliers are playing an elaborate game.  They only want to reassure consumers, not to improve conditions" - Dr Liu Kaiman, Institute of Contemporary Observation, Shenzen