More Updates

World Bank must demand end to attacks on Cambodian labour and human rights organizations

Photo: From a CENTRAL report on labour rights violations.

MSN joined with 162 other international labour and human rights organizations in signing a joint open letter calling on the World Bank to enforce its policy of zero tolerance for retaliation and condemn the Cambodian government’s assault on human rights organizations, including the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights (CENTRAL) and Equitable Cambodia.

Fashion brands fail to act while 40,000 workers in Bangladesh remain at risk of arrest for demanding their right to a living wage

¨Photo: Clean Clothes Campaign.

Photo: Clean Clothes Campaign.

Campaigners, labour rights advocates and trade union representatives are calling on fashion brands, like H&M and Zara, to do more to protect the rights of Bangladeshi workers who make their clothes by ensuring that the 36 legal cases filed against groups of workers and demonstrators during the 2023 wage protests in Bangladesh are dropped.

Former Style Avenue and APS workers receive back wages and severance pay

Former APS workers meet regarding the payment process (FEASIES).

Former Style Avenue workers receive payments (WRC).

Former APS workers will continue to call on Specialized to #PayYourWorkers.

As a result of lengthy campaigns by Salvadoran unions and international labour rights organizations, hundreds of workers formerly employed by the Style Avenue and APS garment factories in El Salvador are receiving legally owed back wages, severance and other terminal benefits.

Will ouster of Bangladeshi Prime Minister open the door to justice for students and workers?

2024 reform movement in Bangladesh (Rayhan9d).

Students organize the "Bangla Blockade" (Rayhan9d).

Massive protests by students and their supporters in Bangladesh this July and August led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the creation of an interim government headed by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, raising hopes of an end to repression and the creation of new opportunities for students and workers.

The murder of at least 300 students and other protesters and the detention of thousands were only the most recent instances of government repression against human and labour rights activists, garment workers and union leaders.

Independent Mexican union wins CBA at Nazareno garment factory

Photo: Celebrating the initial CBA (La Liga).

On August 14, workers at the Delta Staff Manufacturing garment factory in Nazareno, Mexico voted overwhelmingly in favour of a collective bargaining agreement negotiated by their independent union, the Mexican Worker’s League (La Liga). 548 workers voted to ratify the agreement and only 93 voted against it. The agreement will reportedly provide benefits worth a total of $2.5 million pesos (US$134,000). The factory produces for Gap, Levi’s, Carhartt and Target.

Employer Guidance on Freedom of Association in Mexico (2024)

Mexico’s May 2019 labour justice reform opened the door to a new era in labour relations. To encourage greater understanding and respect for the reformed Federal Labour Law, the Mexico Committee of the Americas Group has prepared an Employer Guidance tool on Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. To support this work, MSN published a summary of the most significant rights and obligations regarding freedom of association and collective bargaining under Mexican labour law, the US-Canada-Mexico tri-national trade agreement and international conventions.

Labour rights organizations call for action on murder of Guatemalan union leader

Photo: Nic McPhee Flickr

Photo: Anastacio Tzib Caal

On June 15, 2024, Guatemalan union leader Anastacio Tzib Caal was murdered in Villa Canales, outside of Guatemala City. With a long trajectory of promoting worker rights in the garment industry, Mr. Tzib Caal had recently been elected general secretary of the SITRATEXPIA II union at SAE-A Trading Corporation’s Texpia II factory. The factory produces clothing for several well-known international brands, including Carhartt, Target and Walmart. Other well-known brands, including Gap and Polo Ralph Lauren, are major business partners of SAE-A in Guatemala and internationally.

One year since trade unionist’s murder in Bangladesh, brands fail to take responsibility

Photo: Clean Clothes Campaign

One year ago, trade union activist Shahidul Islam was attacked and killed in front of the Prince Jacquard Sweaters Ltd factory in Bangladesh. Despite repeated outreach by the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) network to over 50 garment brands identified as sourcing from the factory, the family has received very little compensation from only one of those brands.

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