"From Shop Floor to Street Stage: Women Garment Workers Call for Change"

As we step into International Women’s Day 2025, the fight against gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the garment industry remains as urgent as ever. Last year, during the 16 Days of Activism, women garment workers in Bengaluru, India, turned their struggles into powerful public performances, demanding justice, safety, and dignity.

In an industry plagued by gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH), the rallying cry of women garment workers for safe working conditions, fair wages, and the right to freedom of association has persisted for years. This call was at the heart of the street plays organised between November 25 and December 10 in Bengaluru by Asia Floor Wage Alliance’s (AFWA) National Women’s Leadership Committee. Held to commemorate the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the campaign added a regional flavour to this global movement. [...]

Calling Out Fashion’s Complicity

The play sheds light on the complicity of fashion brands in perpetuating these exploitative conditions as encapsulated in the cry, “Our labour results in fashion clothes! In profits!”. It also highlighted the oppressive environment on shop floors, where workers are denied basic rights and amenities such as access to drinking water, lunch breaks, and washroom breaks, as denounced by the declaration “Workers are not slaves!”. The discrimination faced by migrant women workers was captured in the demand, “Local or migrant, treat us the same!” and the urgent need for respect and dignity at the workplace as urged in the call, “Keep a hold of your tongue, hand, and eye”. The powerful performance concluded with a resounding call for freedom of association (FOA) to enable collective action for improved working conditions. [...]

This campaign, led by women garment workers, showcased the power of collective action and the importance of solidarity in demanding change. Through their performances, these women transformed their lived experiences into a powerful call for justice, resonating with thousands of workers and the public alike. Their message was clear: respect, dignity, and equality are not privileges but fundamental rights that every worker deserves. This initiative not only underscored the urgent need for reform but also reinforced the strength of unionised voices in shaping a more equitable future.