Blog

Bangladeshi Ha-Meem Group Garment Factory Goes Up in Smoke and Flames

December 16, 2010

Unbelievably, Humayin Kabir, a production manager, denied the workers’ assertions that the exits were locked, explaining, “Maybe the workers could not find their way to the emergency exits as they have claimed that the tenth and eleventh floors were already dark with smoke.”

About 5,000 people work at the Ha-Meem Group factory producing garments for big name brands such as Gap, Abercrombie, JC Penney, and Phillips-Van Heusen (owns Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Arrow, Izod, and Bass).

Worker Cooperatives in Colombia: The Reality Behind the Rhetoric

December 3, 2010

Employers create CTAs in order to avoid having to support unionization, collective bargaining, and other basic labor rights to which they would normally be subject if their workers were treated as such: employees. Whereas employers are traditionally responsible for paying two-thirds of contributions to government benefit programs such as the National Apprenticeship Service (SENA), the Colombian Institute for Family Well Being (ICBF), the Family Equalization Fund and the social security system, which includes health care and retirement payments, CTA associates are responsible for making all of the legally-mandated government contributions themselves.

Labor Day Protest Sparks Solidarity Among Longshoremen Workers Against Del Monte

November 17, 2010

ILA Local 1291 reached out to the International Dockworkers Council, the West Coast Longshore Workers, and the International Transport Workers Federation, using their support to help demand that Del Monte continue to use the union workers. This is essential because if Del Monte is allowed to turn to cheaper labor with no benefits now, nothing will stop them from doing it at other Locals. “This is just the first step,” Butler said. “If Del Monte succeeds here, it sends a ripple effect to other banana shippers, on the West coast and around the world.”

Attack on Alien Tort Statute Threatens Future of International Human Rights

November 10, 2010

The court’s decision in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch, which was widely welcomed by multinationals, undermines the original 1789 law aimed at upholding universally accepted and obligatory norms of human rights. By eliminating the binding responsibility of corporations to engage in socially responsible business, it is likely to foster a culture of impunity and a lack of accountability, which in turn will seriously jeopardize the state of human rights around the world. In the past, the ATCA has been successful in addressing irresponsible corporate behavior. The notorious case of Doe v. Unocal, involved charges made by Burmese villagers against MNC Unocal’s involvement in human rights abuses including forced labor, rape and murder.

Fashion Fights Poverty Holds 4th Annual Forum

November 9, 2010

Fashion Fights Poverty was able to bring to the table panelists from diverse backgrounds. The participants consisted of Brendan Hurley, the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Goodwill of Greater Washington; Jeff Goldman, the Executive Director of the Fair Trade Resource Network; Jung Hwa Song, the Asia Pacific Regional Editor for Foreign Policy Digest; Nicki Kurokawa, the Director of Research Analysis for the Winston Group; and Jonathan Jacoby, the Policy and Campaigns Manager for the Private Sector Department at

ILRF's Cocoa Campaign Wins Award

November 3, 2010

The push for Hershey to support Fair Trade has been made even stronger by other recent company announcement to support certified chocolate. This week, major Australian company Arnott's has agreed to begin using Fair Trade Certified cocoa in its products. Nestle also announced that it would certify its Kit Kat bars in Australia with UTZ Certified, a program that is viewed by many labor advocates as weaker than Fair Trade.

Bangladesh’s New Wage is Still a Poverty Wage

November 1, 2010

The agreement promises an increase from 1,662.50 taka ($24) per month to 3,000 taka ($43) per month, which may seem like a monumental increase from outside Bangladesh. But in Bangladesh, a worker with a family of average size (4.8 members) who works a typical 10 hour work day will require 11,282 taka per month just to feed herself and her family members. This excludes necessary allowances for rent, transportation, or healthcare.

Flower Workers’ Conditions in Finca Guacari Will Be Taken to the ILO Committee on Application of Standards

October 29, 2010

Under these circumstances, on September 18, Sintraguacari decided to go on strike in defense of their labor rights and to protest the unfair dismissal of seven of the union’s members. While these rights are recognized by domestic and international legislations, their enforcement is very poor in most of the cut flower industry in Colombia. See ILRF's Fairness in Flowers Campaign page for more on the general working conditions for cut-flower workers.

Alta Gracia: Proof that Decent Working Conditions ARE Possible

October 28, 2010

According to John Kline, one of the most important aspects of the Alta Gracia factory is that it represents a successful alternative to the current sweatshop model. Knights Apparel has proved it is possible to pay its workers a living wage and it has also proved that this is only possible if the company is willing to commit to paying its workers this wage. In the Dominican Republic it has been determined that a living wage is equivalent to 340% of the legal minimum wage.

Halloween Actions to Stop Child Labor in Chocolate