December '24: 33 Transformative Targets for a Just Transition, Podcast Episode on Gender & Health, and more...
In our ongoing commitment to providing insight into the evolving landscape of labor rights within the textile and garment industry, we offer updates on the latest developments and progress, with a particular focus on developments in Bangladesh. Among other intriguing topics, this issue spotlights Public Eye’s “One-Earth Fashion” report and its accompanying discussion series, which outlines transformation targets for a just, sustainable fashion system. Additionally, we feature a podcast on the severe health risks faced by women garment workers, with calls for systemic change. These updates aim to deepen understanding and drive progress in labor rights and sustainability.
We hope you enjoy reading and wish you a great start to 2025!
Your project team
STUDIES & REPORTS
Public Eye Report: One-Earth Fashion (pdf)
In their new Report “One-Earth Fashion. 33 Transformation Targets for a Just Fashion System within Planetary Boundaries”, Publiy Eye provides transformation targets for a just transition in the fashion sector. From less resource and energy use, over slower production and consumption to decent work with purpose and fairer distribution of economic value, the transformation affects the fundamental structures of the industry. The paper aims to open a global discussion that will also be lead online in a special discussion series “One-Earth Fashion: how do we get there?”, from January to April 2025.
Swedwatch urges global brands to improve due diligence by engaging workers and unions, ensuring supply-chain transparency, adopting fair purchasing practices, and supporting living wages. EU Member States are called to enforce the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) by broadening its scope, aligning with international standards, and ensuring worker justice through unified wage definitions. The European Commission is advised to provide guidance, curb unfair practices, and advance sustainable procurement policies.
Report: Reimagining Growth Landscape Analysis (pdf)
Textile Exchange has released a Landscape Analysis Report that explores pathways for shifting the textile industry toward sustainable growth models. The report critiques current production and consumption patterns, proposing alternative frameworks that prioritize resource efficiency, circularity, and equitable value distribution. The analysis is a call to action for brands and stakeholders to adopt transformative approaches that balance business growth with planetary boundaries and community well-being.
Report: Upstream Circularity Playbook for Garment manufacturing countries
Supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the H&M Foundation, the Upstream Circularity Playbook promotes public and private adoption of business models that valorize post-industrial waste from processes like milling, spinning, and garment production. It emphasizes upstream practices such as sorting, segregation, and recycling, with practical applications in countries like India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
NEWS
Podcast Episode: Health Risks in Garment Work
Women garment workers face severe health risks as a result of exploitative power structures in factories. Unrealistic production targets, daily pressure, harassment, and poor nutrition lead to mental strain, physical exhaustion, and reproductive health issues. In this live podcast episode of Kleiderei Radio, Anthony Raju V. (Cividep, India) and Danardianingtyas Nitya S. (TURC, Indonesia), discuss these issues and advocate for systemic changes to uphold health as a fundamental human right. English language starts at minute 3.
Brands’ Purchasing Practices Push Crisis onto Workers
A new briefing by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre highlights how brands' exploitative purchasing practices—such as delayed payments and excessive discount demands—shift financial risks to suppliers, leaving workers vulnerable. These practices hinder suppliers' ability to provide fair wages or comply with labor standards. The report urges reforms in pricing and contracting to protect workers’ rights.
New Platform Showcases Global Efforts to Combat Gender-Based Violence at Work
A new website has been launched to consolidate resources and actions addressing gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in the workplace. Aligning with ILO Convention 190, the first international treaty to combat violence and harassment in the world of work, the platform highlights global efforts by labor and women’s rights organizations to advance this critical agenda.
Products made with forced labour: EU Council adopts ban
The EU Council has adopted a regulation prohibiting products in the Union market that are made using forced labour. The text forbids the placing and making available on the Union market, or the export from the Union market, of any product made using forced labour. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure.
PRODUCTION COUNTRIES
Bangladesh
Latest Cases in the Textile Incidents Database:
The Textile Incidents Website documents two recent cases that exemplify the ongoing labor struggles, reflecting broader trends in protests and strikes. One covers a recent wave of strikes by garment workers, driven by demands for higher wages and better conditions. The strikes, spanning multiple factories, highlight the growing frustration among workers over stagnant wages amidst rising living costs. Factory shutdowns and blocked highways reflect the scale of unrest, while reports of police repression amplify concerns about the sector’s ability to address labor grievances.
The other case concerns unpaid wages at Abanti Colour Tex in Fatullah area of Narayanganj. Hundreds of textile workers protested and blocked the Dhaka-Pagla-Munshiganj road to demand unpaid wages. According to the protesting workers, Abanti Color Tex (which is part of the Crony Group) were shut down without notice, leaving the workers without wages. They allege that despite repeated demands for their wages, the owners have repeatedly refused to pay out the wages and that the Narayanganj administration has failed to find a solution.
CA Yunus: Bangladesh Committed to Sweeping Labour Reforms
“We want to make our labour laws at par with global standards”, so Bangladesh Chief Adviser Yunus. The interim government is committed to implementing significant labor reforms including advancing workers’ rights and addressing workplace issues to align with global norms. This is vital to sustain Bangladesh’s eligibility for trade benefits under the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
Annual Wage Hike for Garment Workers Set at 9%
The government has raised the annual wage increase for garment workers from 5% to 9%, effective December, with payouts beginning in January. The decision, reached through a tripartite meeting, follows widespread protests demanding better pay and labor reforms. This raise, along with additional benefits under amended labor laws, will remain in place until a new minimum wage is announced.
India
The Rippling Effects of the Dindigul Agreement
This article highlights how members of the Tamil Nadu Textile & Common Labour Union (TTCU) are working through the Dindigul Agreement to combat gender-based violence both in the workplace and within their communities. The Shop Floor Monitoring System introduced by the agreement empowers workers to take action against injustice everywhere and to protect themselves from abuse in their private lives.
Cambodia
EU Urges Action on Shrinking Civic Spaces (pdf)
On November 28, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the repression of civil society in Cambodia, particularly targeting the labour rights group CENTRAL. The resolution calls for an end to harassment of civil society and political prisoners, urges European brands to ensure supply chain due diligence, and demands stronger support for Cambodian human rights defenders from EU Member States and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
NETWORK & EVENTS
20th January - 9th March 2025, Online Course Series:
ETUI’s free onlince course on Just Transition
This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will unite trade unionists, researchers, and practitioners to explore the fields of labour law, industrial relations, and environmental law. Discovering the synergy between work and nature, the balance of labour and environmental sustainability, the intersection between labour law and environmental law, and much more will be part of the Skills for Labour and Environmental Justice series. By the end, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how these two fields of law can coexist and support one another. Registration until 16th December required.
Mon, starting 20th January 2025, Discussion Series:
Public Eye’s The One-Earth Fashion discussion series
The above mentioned report “One-Earth Fashion: 33 Transformation Targets for a Just Fashion System within Planetary Boundaries” is accompanied by a discussion series, One-Earth Fashion: How Do We Get There?. The events will explore each transformation target from January to April 2025. Each session tackles a critical aspect of reducing resource use, slowing production, and ensuring fair labor practices. First session on Monday 20th January, 2025, 3pm CET, focuses on “Material shift: from overproduction to circularity”. Registration required.
Mon, 14th January 2025, Workshop:
Unveiling the Hidden Crisis: Gender, Caste, and Climate in India’s Supply Chains
Especially recommended for those working in or with Indian supply chains. 10am CET. Invited by Beyond Sustaina-Bullshit.
We invite you to contribute events and networking opportunities for future editions by contacting us at
About Textile Insight
Our News Update is a monthly publication that serves as a chronicle of news, insights, and analysis, striving to amplify the voices of workers and advocating for meaningful change within the textile industry. This is an open invitation to all interested parties who wish to support an ambitious, sustainable textile industry and become part of this new network. If you have suggestions for specific topics or wish to submit news or information under the "Network" category, please feel free to write to
Textile Insight is a part of the Multi-Actor Partnership for Improved Due Diligence Implementation in the Textile Sector, a collaboration between Bangladeshi partners ESDO and BILS along with German civil society organizations HEJSupport, INKOTA-netzwerk e.V., SÜDWIND e.V., and FEMNET e.V. Further project partners include WageIndicator, MFNV and BLF.
Our project focuses on community- and worker-based monitoring to address labor rights violations and environmental risks from a rights holders' perspective. The aim is to improve working and living conditions and enhance the due diligence of purchasing brands.
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