“Workers’ children in the area are not admitted in the Government schools in Delhi as they cannot provide the documents the Delhi Government Schools ask for.” (Worker X, Case Study: Taking Liberties)
Labour Behind the Label and War on Want are reporting gross violations of workers rights in two Delhi factories producing garments for M&S, Debenhams, Next Monsoon and Arcadia.
Taking Liberties, cites exploitative labour practices such as unregistered living in slum housing, precarious labour through non-contractual temporary employment, threats and violence against workers through hired security in anti-union workplace environment, poverty wages (workers paid less than ½ a living wage), and forced overtime.
The report is asking M&S, Debenhams, Next Monsoon and Arcadia to:
- Take concrete steps to ensure freedom of association and collective bargaining in Gurgaon
- Develop clear benchmarks for paying a minimum living wage, based on the Asia Floor Wage figures
- Address purchasing practices that impact on wages, in particular the costing in of a living wage to prices
- Eliminate the use of short term contract labour in supply chains
- Work with others, especially workers and their unions, to translate aspirational codes into reality
Take action! Click here to download the report have your say! Speak out against worker violations and speak up for workers rights!
Mary has a PhD in Sociology from University of Edinburgh, researching responsible fashion and transnational labour rights activism in the wake of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh.
