Un(der)paid in the Pandemic: An estimate of what the garment industry owes its workers

First, in January, when the transportation of raw materials from China to other garment producing countries was suspended, many factories were forced to close temporarily. The next wave hit as the pandemic spread to Europe and the United States (US). In response to a sudden drop in consumer demand for apparel, brands cancelled and refused to pay for shipments of completed and in production orders. As a result, factories were forced to close and dismiss workers in mass. Each time factories were forced to close, workers were often sent home without notice or pay from their employers. For example, in Bangladesh, 72.4% of furloughed and 80.4% of dismissed workers were sent home unpaid in March 2020. The third wave of devastation continues, as the virus itself spreads in garment producing countries. At the time of writing this report, many factories remain closed and millions of workers remain unpaid.

Un(der)paid in the Pandemic: An estimate of what the garment industry owes its workers - Clean Clothes Campaign, 2020 DOWNLOAD

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COVID-19 resourcesPublications

This briefing builds on the understanding that labour exploitation is part of a spectrum ranging from labour compliance through to labour law violations, culminating at extreme exploitation in the form of forced labour. Research by FLEX and others s...Read More

TAGS: Due Diligence Extractives & Mining Information and Communications Technology Transportation/ Logistics Manufacturing Agriculture, Horticulture & Landscaping Informal Sector Aquaculture & Fishing Forestry/ Reforestation, Wood & Paper Food & Beverage - Processing & Packaging Domestic Work/ Servitude Healthcare/ Pharmaceuticals Financial sector Europe

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COVID-19 resources

In this working paper, we investigate high-level changes in the online strategic communications of organizations engaged with SDG 8.7 (ending modern slavery) during the COVID-19 crisis. We present preliminary evidence of important semantic and thema...Read More

TAGS: Reporting Global

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COVID-19 resourcesGuidance

The Covid-19 pandemic has once again exposed the fragility of global supply chains and the enormous risks to human and labour rights in a highly interconnected global economy that is not governed by the rule of law. With the global drop in dema...Read More

TAGS: Due Diligence Global

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COVID-19 resources

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TAGS: Reporting Garments & Textiles Asia