More than 90 unions, across the globe, call on apparel brands to negotiate a binding agreement to end systemic gender-based violence, which was exposed after the rape and murder of an Indian worker in the supply chain of a global brand earlier this year.

In a statement, Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) urged brands in this regard.

AFWA is an Asian labour-led global labour and social alliance across apparel-producing countries in Asia and consumer regions of US and Europe.

The issue of gender-based violence is gathering momentum after the rape and death of a female worker last month who was working in one of the factories of Tirupur-based leading exporter Eastman Exports.

Apparel Resources was the first to report this issue and has been continuously covering all developments.

Also Read: Garment worker raped and murdered by supervisor

“We are deeply disappointed that Eastman Exports has not yet resolved these charges against community members so that we can move forward with a fair negotiation,” says Thivya Rakini, State President of Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU), adding “The company pressed for exaggerated charges and must now take responsibility for ensuring the cases are closed.”

The deceased was also a member of TTCU.

In light of this, many trade unions and allied groups have come together to support TTCU’s demand for fair compensation for the family and protection for all other workers through an enforceable and binding agreement with H&M, Gap, PVH and their supplier, Eastman Exports, to end the supply chain model relying on systemic gender-based violence.

This agreement would include future monitoring, remediation and prevention of gender-based violence and barriers to freedom of association, mutually agreed terms for an independent investigation and family compensation using established benchmarks for apparel workers.

After the rape & murder of an Indian garment worker earlier this year, 90+ intl. labor groups came together in support of a binding agreement with @HM @Gap @PVHCorp & their supplier, @EastmanExports to end the supply chain model relying on systemic GBVH. https://t.co/PbGGmjqNu1

— Global Labor Justice (GLJ-ILRF) (@GLJhub) February 5, 2021

“A recent agreement by major brands and their Lesotho supplier with unions and women’s organisations to combat gender-based violence shows the way to deal with this issue. We call upon the brands sourcing from Eastman Exports to sit down with their supplier and the workers’ representatives to reach a similar agreement,” says Jeffery Hermanson, Director of Global Strategies, Workers United – Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Also Read: Worker’s death in apparel factory! H&M launches independent third-party investigation