IndustriALL affiliates in the textile and garment sector met online for Textile World Conference on February 2 to 3, 2023.

Discussions centered around providing strong support for organizing campaigns, especially using global framework agreements, to protect workers’ rights to form trade unions and bargain collectively.

An app, developed last year, provides information and education on workers’ rights. Migrant workers are informed about their rights and can report cases of abuse. Risks faced by women in the garment sector were highlighted like employment insecurity, low wages, gender inequalities and discrimination, and dangers travelling to and from work.

Unions and employers in the H&M, Nike and Adidas supply chains attended a social dialogue conference for a joint commitment, signed by ten unions and companies. Through the policy, unions and employers will develop strategies on how to ensure that reported sexual harassment cases are not left unresolved. The policy will be integrated into collective agreements and ensure safe workspaces and will also raise awareness on zero tolerance of violence and sexual harassment.

A four-year sectoral action plan was debated and approved. The action plan on industry-wide collective bargaining focuses on promoting industry bargaining to reduce inequality, lift wages and conditions and prevent lower standards being used to give companies a competitive advantage.