"COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for LA Garment Workers", 20 March 2020

... A needs assessment with 100 of our members and revealed specific impacts on their income and well-being.

1. Threatened job security
   1. Reduced work hours or closed factories because of delays in garment imports...
   2. Lack of information or warning as to impending factory closures
2. Food insecurity due to loss of income
3. Inability to pay rent, utilities,  and other bills due to loss of income...
4. Where garment factories remain open... workers report dirty conditions... failure to implement social distancing and sanitizing practices, and bathrooms without soap or hand sanitizer...
5. Hospitals and other medical facilities are sending PPE... orders into LA’s garment district.
   1. Garment workers are providing essential labor to curb the pandemic, yet have little to no health protection and assurance of fair wages!

Garment workers are often not eligible for unemployment benefits and the underground nature of the industry... makes applying for paid family leave or disability insurance uniquely challenging...

This is why Garment Worker Center is launching the Garment Worker COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund.

We urge our supporters to give what they can, and leaders of the fashion industry to contribute generously to give back to those who made their clothes. Please donate. 

For a detailed statement for our call to action, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/gwccovid19