IndustriALL Global Union, a renowned organisation that represents garment workers from across the world and well-known fashion brand retailer Esprit have joined hands to protect, respect and support the human rights of the workers in its supply chain.
The two organisations have signed a global framework agreement that covers over 525,000 workers at more than 1,100 suppliers making textile, footwear, and apparel products for Esprit in 27 countries.
Through this contract, IndustriALL and Esprit will collaborate to set up a structure in order to make it easier for the local trade unions to negotiate detailed collective agreements with all the suppliers associated with Esprit at national or local level. They will also make sure that fundamental International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards are adhered by their contractors, sub-contractors, and principle suppliers, including the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, along with several other ILO Conventions and internationally recognised standards.
With IndustriALL, Esprit has committed to provide training programmes starting from the workers, factory managers to the suppliers so as to make an enabling environment for the freedom of association and also develop a mindset to make sustainability a core part of the factories.
Valter Sanches, IndustriALL’s General Secretary said, “This is a big step forward for Esprit and for half a million people working in their global supply chain. Esprit has recognised the importance of freedom of association and collective bargaining in empowering workers and building well-functioning industrial relations”.
It is worth noting here that earlier Esprit had collaborated with IndustriALL as a member of the ACT (Action, Collaboration, and Transformation) initiative. It is also a part of the Steering Committee of the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, set up by IndustriALL and UNI Global Union, in order to improve the working conditions of the garment factories.
Esprit is headquartered in Germany and Hong Kong, selling clothing, footwear, accessories, and homeware in 41 countries. Esprit mainly sources from Bangladesh and China. It also procures from Turkey, Vietnam, India, and Pakistan.
