The stakeholders in the garment industry, for years,have been on their toes to ensure the workers across the globe get a living wage.However, sadly, there’s been no major breakthrough in this regard.
Now, a new European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) is urging the European Commission to pass legislation protecting living wages for apparel workers.
ECI is known as “Good Clothes, Fair Pay.”
Fashion Revolution, a non-profit organisation and force behind the annual Fashion Transparency Index (FTI), has launched the campaign in a bid to reach 1 million signatures by 19 July 2023 – a required threshold for the ECI to be considered by policymakers.
The proposed legislation would require brands and retailers selling apparel, textiles and footwear in the EU to take action on living wages in their supply chains.
Besides, companies would be legally required to assess wages in their own supply chains, put in place plans to close the gap between actual and living wages, and publicly disclose their progress.
As per the latest FTI, only 4 per cent of major fashion brands have agreed to publish the number of workers in their supply chain who are paid a living wage.
The majority of the apparel manufacturers across the globe are paying minimum wage to their workers, which is defined by their Governments. Workers’ union is strongly of the opinion that minimum wage is not sufficient for the workers’ basic needs, and so living wage is the need of the hour.
