Labour Behind The Label

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Workers at the Fortune Garment factory in Cambodia are celebrating an important victory after signing a memorandum of understanding with factory management which included recognition of the Garment Workers Democratic Union of Fortune Garments and allows C.CAWDU (the federation to which GWDU belong) to enter the factory to resolve labour disputes.

On Friday May 5th a meeting was held between ETI brands sourcing from Fortune, their supplier, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation and Labour Behind the Label to discuss developments at the Fortune Garment and Knitting Factory in Cambodia. 

 The following statement was agreed by all parties present.

In May 2004 over 1000 of workers at the Fortune Garment and Woollen Knitting factory signed with their thumbprints a petition requesting a pay increase. The International Labour Organisation had monitored the factory twice in recent years and found numerous workers rights violations on both visits.

The worker’s demands were denied and they went on strike in June 2004.

Between June 2004 and August 2005 19 union leaders and 120 union members were dismissed and replaced by new non-unionised workers. At least 11 union activists faced charges in the criminal and civil courts as part of this serious anti-union campaign. The man identified by the factory management as the leader during the strike, Mr Sok Vy, was singled out and prosecuted on charges of incitement and criminal damage, despite the fact no evidence was presented against him at court and that witnesses claimed the strike had been entirely peaceful.

Since the resolution of this case a number of supporters have forwarded copies of letters sent to them by Topshop and the Arcadia group. Below please find a copy of each letter and LBL's response. A list of main points is also included if you would like to send your own reply.

If you have received a response from any company in regard to this case that is different to these please send them to Sam Maher at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by post at 38 Exchange Street, Norwich, NR2 1AX

Labour Behind the Label is pleased to report that Publicis Thailand, the Thai subsidiary of French-based global public relations giant Publicis Groupe has withdrawn its libel lawsuit against Junya Lek Yimprasert, coordinator of the Thai Labour Campaign (TLC).

Six international brands -- American Eagle Outfitters, Gap Inc., Levi Strauss, PvH, Polo Ralph Lauren and Warnaco -- that source products from the State of Puebla in Mexico have urged the State Governor Mario Marin Torres to take proactive steps to ensure the physical safety of Martin Barrios and the members of the Commission.

Please find below the latest update on  the international campaign in defence of Martin Barrios and other members of the Human and Labour Rights Commission of the Tehuacan Valley in Mexico’s State of Puebla. 

Thanks to all of you who responded to our urgent action alerts on this case. You letters played an important role in helping to gain Martin’s release from prison and providing some degree of protection for Martin, his family members, and his co-workers at the Commission during this difficult period.

 

Mexican labour rights activist, Martin Barrios, is now facing threats on his life, just a month after he was released from prison after being wrongly detained by the Mexican authorities. The latest death threats come months after Barrios was wrongly imprisoned in Puebla; at that time he was working on a case of 163 unjustly dismissed garment workers. Barrios was released after widespread local and international protest at his arrest . However serious concerns remain regarding his safety and that of others working to prevent rights abuses in the Mexican garment industry.

{mosimage}Unrest in the Bangladesh garment industry has once again erupted following the announcement of a new minimum wage of 1662tk (£13.27) that falls well below the level needed by workers to meet the basic needs of themselves and their families.  100s of workers have taken to the streets, blockaded roads and damaged factories in protest at the announcement, delaying or non payment of wages and at the failure of the government or factory owner to tackle working conditions in the factories. Further demonstrations and strikes are expected in coming weeks.