November 2016

This case study focuses on predominantly women homeworkers engaged in the footwear supply chain in…India. UK companies found to be sourcing in this area at the time of research include Marks and Spencer, Asda/Walmart, Base London, Next, Pentland and Clarks…Homebased workers in this industry face low wages, insecure and precarious work, and lack of freedom of association. There are numerous governance gaps identified…Leather footwear homeworkers face multiple barriers to organising themselves and asserting their rights...The case follows the responses of transnational business to the social movement campaigns on child labour in the Indian footwear sector; a homework program in North India by the ETI; and a recent campaign on leather footwear homework in Tamil Nadu…An overall finding from this report is that a lack of recognition and dialogue with unions and civil society by corporations around accountable and transparent grievance processes perpetuates barriers to grievance for workers in the footwear supply chain…