Labour Behind The Label

The battle to obtain wages high enough to ensure a dignified and decent life is being fought by hundreds of thousands of mainly women garment workers in some of the poorest countries in the world.

Case Study: Worker from M&S, Debenhams and NEXT factory.

Worker X comes from one of the poorest states in India, Uttar Pradesh. He has worked in Gurgaon for over 10 years and at one of the factories in the report for the last two and a half years.

“My boy is in 9^th grade now and my girl has stopped school. I cannot afford to bring my family to Gurgaon on the wage I earn. Now, I live in a room which has asbestos roofing which has Rs 1000 rent which me and my friend share. My children and wife wanted to see Delhi for many years but I could never bring them. If the family came I would have to take a better room of my own which will cost me at least Rs1500 including electricity. Sending kids to school will also be a problem here. Workers' children in the area are not admitted in the Government schools in Delhi as they cannot provide the documents the Delhi Government Schools ask for.

Living under asbestos roofing is really tough in the Delhi summer where temperature goes up to 46 degree Celsius and the Delhi winter where temperature dips to 1 degree Celsius. I get up in the morning, cook lunch, take bath, wash clothes and go for work. I don't eat breakfast, only lunch and dinner. Instead of breakfast, some money is spent for tobacco.”