Garment workers exploited in India, reports Tribunal

Indian workers, a majority of them women,

who sweat and toil to stitch designer garments for global brands in Europe and the US, are exploited and harassed by employers, an international tribunal has reported. “Though the textiles and garment manufacturing sector is the largest provider of employment and output in India, the working and living conditions of workers have definitely worsened over the last two decades with more exploitation and harassment,” the Rome-based National People’s Tribunal said in its verdict on “Living wage as a fundamental right of Indian garment workers”.

A six-member jury, headed by Italy-based Permanent People’s Tribunal secretary-general Gianni Tognoni, said that besides low wages and non-payment for overtime, garment workers are denied statutory and social benefits, exploited with stiff production targets and its women workforce face sexual harassment and violence. In a representation to the tribunal, about 20 trade and garment workers’ unions said multi-national brands and retailers were responsible for the grave exploitation and human rights violations of Indian garment workers.

“Such violations in producing countries have robbed workers of a basic human existence and Asian countries and industry of their due revenue,” the unions petitioned, seeking minimum living wage and decent working conditions as a fundamental human right. Barring H&M, the Swedish multi-national retail-clothing firm, no other global brand or its suppliers in India was present for the tribunal’s hearing, held for the first time in India here since November 22, as part of a series of national public hearings coordinated by the Asia floor wage campaign.

“Our recommendations to them (brands and suppliers) will remain a mockery where human rights are violated their declarations of good will imply an unwillingness to change. The jury demands more credibility on the part of employers by participating in a dialogue with parity among stakeholders," Tognoni added.