“Fashioning justice: A call for mandatory and comprehensive human rights due diligence in the garment industry”, January 2021

… [N]on-enforceable initiatives and voluntary commitments by garment brands have failed to protect workers’ human rights and deliver justice. CCC therefore puts forward concrete proposals for binding rules aimed at ensuring responsible business conduct…

‘Fashioning justice’ puts the spotlight on: brands’ unfair purchasing practices at the roots of human rights violations; brands’ reliance on the flawed social auditing system; the lack of occupational safety; gender inequality; poverty wages even with overtime work; persistent attacks freedom of association; the acute lack of value chain transparency; and lack of effective remedy in cases of human rights violations which take place on a mass scale.

By preferring to produce in low-income countries that lack or under-fund social protection systems and where human rights are often flouted, fashion brands, retailers and e-tailers have long been deriving profits from a system of poverty pay and exploitation…

… [F]ashion brands, retailers and e-tailers have been largely ignoring responsible business conduct principles and the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on garment workers.

“Garment brands … they abuse their market power to push for ever lower prices so that garment factories operate on razor-thin margins and cut corners on workers’ rights. Meanwhile brands pay out millions to their shareholders…” said Neva Nahtigal of Clean Clothes Campaign International Office.

“Above all, we appeal to policy-makers to adopt a comprehensive approach. Human rights due diligence requirements must cover entire value chains … clear enforcement mechanisms … adequate sanctions for shortcomings and for civil and criminal liability provisions … [and] access to effective remedy…” said Muriel Treibich of Clean Clothes Campaign International Office.