The Tamil Nadu Alliance, a coalition of civil society networks working in the area of textiles in the State, has called upon textile brands and retailers to sign a declaration that will improve the working condition of laborers in textile mills in the State.

According to a press release, it called on brands and retailers to do more to abolish exploitative working conditions within textile mills in Tamil Nadu. International brands and retailers that source yarn and fabric from the textile units here should take steps to address “severe exploitation in their textile supply chain.

The Tamil Nadu Declaration, developed by the alliance, highlights the need for sustained action by brands and retailers to address exploitative practices in textile spinning mills.

It urged the retailers and brands to expand supply chain transparency to all textile manufacturing facilities, support the effective implementation of labor laws and protections in Tamil Nadu, adopt sustainable sourcing and purchasing models that promote decent working conditions throughout the supply chain, integrate worker-driven approaches to monitor compliance with labor standards and support the development of a collective grievance mechanism in the state.