June '25 | About Rising Heat Stress in India, Trade Unions Creating a Win-Win Situation in Factories, and more...

In our ongoing commitment to providing insight into the evolving landscape of labor and environmental 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 edition highlights how major fashion brands continue to overlook workers in their climate strategies and investigates alarming toxic contamination in India’s textile supply chains. In Bangladesh, we report on a factory-related health incident, fresh calls for labor reform, and promising union-management collaboration. From rising heat stress in Indian factories to the environmental toll of fast fashion in Nepal, this issue offers a sobering yet vital view of industry realities.

With our website and this News Update, we aim aim to deepen understanding and drive progress in labor rights and sustainability.

We hope you enjoy!
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STUDIES & REPORTS

The Missing Thread: Workers Absent From Fashion Companies' Climate Plans

A new report by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre reveals how 65 top fashion brands are failing to integrate worker rights and representation into their climate strategies. Based on a detailed review of publicly available social and environmental policies, the research is enriched by insights from garment workers and trade union representatives gathered through in-country convenings in Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Toxid Threads: Assessing Nonylphenol Contamination in Indian Textiles & the Environment

The report Toxic Threads: Assessing Nonylphenol Contamination in Indian Textiles & the Environment investigates the presence of nonylphenol (NP) in textiles sold in India, as well as its contamination in river water, sediment, and industrial effluents from key textile hubs. The study highlights widespread NP contamination in both consumer textile products—particularly innerwear and children’s clothing—and surrounding water bodies. Elevated NP levels point to prolonged human exposure risks. The research identifies industrial discharge as the main source of NP pollution in major rivers, threatening aquatic life and public health.

LkSG and CSDDD in Reality-Check: Opinions of 1,350 Business Decision-Makers (in German, pdf)

The majority of German companies consider human rights and environmental standards essential, with the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) driving increased investment in these areas. Businesses largely support an EU-wide harmonization of due diligence regulations (CSDDD), viewing it as a strategic advantage over non-EU competitors; however, recent revisions under the "Omnibus" proposal have introduced legal uncertainty, delaying investment decisions. Instead of weakening due diligence obligations, companies are calling for economic relief through lower energy costs, faster permitting processes, and stronger support for digitalization.

NEWS

Health Risks at International Classic Composite Ltd., Bangladesh (New Textile Incident)

More than 200 workers at a garment factory in Gazipur's Kadda district fell ill on 17 May 2025 after reportedly drinking water provided at the workplace. The factory was subsequently closed for the whole day. The company is a supplier to a member company of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles.

Balancing Safety and Simplification: EU Faces Crossroads on Chemical Regulation

As the European Commission tightens restrictions on hazardous chemicals like DMAC and NEP to better protect workers, industry group CEFIC has published a 10-point plan calling for a simplification of the EU’s flagship REACH regulation. The newly adopted limits on DMAC and NEP—used widely in fibre production, coatings, and cleaning agents—set strict thresholds for skin and inhalation exposure, with full enforcement expected within 18 months (and up to 4 years for some fibre applications). While these restrictions demonstrate REACH’s evolving role in safeguarding health, critics argue that CEFIC’s proposed reforms risk diluting such protections under the guise of efficiency and innovation. The European Commission insists that simplification must not equal deregulation, especially as REACH remains key to the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.

Climate Momentum Falters at Fashion's Biggest Sustainability Summit

This year’s Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen struck a somber tone as optimism gave way to uncertainty and backtracking on climate commitments. Major brands were absent amid shrinking budgets and rising political sensitivity, while a rightward shift in Europe weakened environmental regulations, threatening progress. Behind the scenes, companies are compromising—abandoning sustainable materials for cheaper options and stalling initiatives—even as record heat and extreme weather threaten supply chains. Without stronger political will or regulatory clarity, fashion risks falling far behind in adapting to a volatile climate.

PRODUCTION COUNTRIES

Bangladesh

Bangladesh: A Country is Changing (in German)

Bangladesh is changing. In the summer of 2024, the people of the country fought for a change of government: after decades of increasing repression of civil society and trade unions during the reign of Sheikh Hasina, since the fall of her government in early August 2024, it looks as if freedom of expression and assembly will return and democratic structures will be strengthened.

The factsheet looks at the current situation in Bangladesh since summer 2024 and the prospects for workers, particularly in the garment industry. The method of workers-based monitoring is presented and Nazma Yesmin from the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) gives her assessment of current developments in an interview.

How Trade Union Became a Win-Win for Workers, Owners at Babylon Garment

Nine years after forming a trade union, Babylon Garments has seen zero labor unrest, with improved worker welfare, lower absenteeism, and enhanced productivity. Through regular dialogue, the union and management negotiated timely wages, school and medical support, and even flexible leave policies. Participation in the ILO's Better Work program has further streamlined operations and reduced audit burdens. The result is a rare win-win model that benefits both employees and owners—challenging the fear often associated with unionization.

Feminist Perspectives: Voices of Resistance and Resilience from Bangladesh

The film series Feminist Perspectives brings powerful female voices from Bangladesh to German audiences through four moving episodes. From grassroots activism in Phulbari to the marginalized struggles of the Shantal indigenous community, each story captures unique insights into gender, identity, and resistance. Viewers meet women like hijra activist Shilpi and student Aunoti, whose experiences highlight shared global concerns around gender roles, social media, and empowerment. The project was conceived by four young women and filmed in Dhaka and Dinajpur, supported by NETZ and local NGO Pollisree.

India

Heat Stress: Women Pay the Highest Price for Climate Change in the Fashion Supply Chain

Women garment workers in Tamil Nadu face brutal heat inside factories with asbestos roofs and poor ventilation, leading to severe health issues like dehydration, infections, and menstrual complications. Despite soaring temperatures, production targets remain high, forcing workers to skip breaks and water, worsening their condition.

Government heat plans and workplace safety laws largely ignore factory workers, leaving women vulnerable without basic protections or enforceable heat stress guidelines. Moreover, global fashion brands largely fail to recognize heat stress as an occupational hazard, and only a few provide any guidance or involve unions in addressing the crisis. Women demand simple protections—cold water, functioning fans, clean toilets—but brands and suppliers neglect these urgent needs, prioritizing fast production over worker health. Labor unions and health experts warn that heat stress is worsening health outcomes and productivity, yet factory owners misinterpreted slow work as laziness. Without binding laws that hold brands accountable and share adaptation costs, women workers will continue paying the highest price for climate change impacts in the fashion supply chain.

Unfair Brand Purchasing Practices Persist 'with Impunity' in the Garment Industry

A survey of nearly 200 Indian garment suppliers reveals ongoing exploitation by major U.S., U.K., and EU fashion brands. Common practices include mid-production order cancellations, delayed payments, and refusal to adjust prices for rising costs. Over half of suppliers now rely on longer hours and precarious contract labor to cope. Despite contract violations, 90% avoid legal action due to fear of retaliation. Advocates are calling for stronger oversight, such as a U.K. garment trade adjudicator, to protect suppliers and workers.

AP Factory Law Expands Work Hours and Night Shifts

The Andhra Pradesh Factories Amendment Bill, 2025, introduces longer workdays and permits women to work night shifts with safety measures in place. Daily work hours are extended from nine to ten, with a six-hour stretch allowed before breaks and a total shift duration of up to 12 hours. Quarterly overtime limits have been nearly doubled to 144 hours, aiming to reduce compliance burdens and attract industry. While the law includes safeguards for women working at night, the overall impact on worker well-being remains a key concern.

Nepal

Fast Fashion’s Toll on Nepal’s Environment and Culture

This report focuses on the human cost behind low-priced, rapidly produced clothing as it reveals that “Shein Village” is not a single location but a network of small garment workshops across Guangzhou, China. These workshops, often family-run, operate under intense pressure to meet rapid production demands. Workers, many of whom are migrants, endure long hours and unstable workloads to fulfill the ultra-fast fashion model. While Shein is a prominent client, these workshops also supply various other fast fashion brands, highlighting a systemic issue within the industry. 

NETWORK & EVENTS

3rd July 2025, 4pm - 5pm CET, Webinar:

Packaging in the Textile Industry – From Necessary to Sustainable (in German)

FEMNET will host a free online webinar as part of the #FairWearWorks goesdigital series. Expert Lavinia Muth, (Un-)Sustainability Consultant and FEMNET board member, will explore the role of packaging in the textile industry. The session will discuss the necessity of packaging alongside challenges like high resource use and waste. It will also cover the increasing responsibility of companies under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations. Participants will gain insights into different packaging solutions used in the textile and clothing industry, the challenges they pose, as well as sustainable alternatives, and how to identify them.Registration is required.