ILO says a group of employers’ organizations, unions and major brands in the garment industry have collaborated with them to support manufacturers affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Under this agreement, brands and retailers commit to paying manufacturers for finished goods and goods in production. They will also commit to maintaining open lines of communication with supply chain partners about the status of business operations and future planning.

Brands and retailers who have signed up to the call to action include Adidas C&A, H&M, Inditex, M&S, Primark, Under Armour and PVH. The group called on governments and financial institutions to accelerate access to credit and income support.

ILO further revealed that an international working group will be set up within the next two weeks to elaborate the steps to deliver on the commitments.