The Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the Worker-driven Social Responsibility Network (WSRN) recently launched a website, WageForward.org, which sets out a concrete proposal for an enforceable, binding agreement between global brands and unions on the payment of living wages to readymade garment (RMG) industry workers.

The groups represent a broad coalition of unions, advocacy groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and have received tremendous support from other allies across the globe.

Because of the extremely low prices brands pay for labour, most workers are forced to work overtime hours in order to make ends just meet. Voluntary brand or multi-stakeholder initiatives have thus far failed miserably to address this core issue of the garment industry and not led to any wage increases for workers and certainly not to payment of a living wage.

WageForward.org highlights the important benefits of the Enforceable Brand Agreements (EBA) and Worker-driven Social Responsibility (WSR) approach for addressing the crises caused by poverty wages, according to a press release by Business and Human Rights Resource Centre, a US-based NGO.

The central element of the proposal is the payment of a living wage contribution on every order signatory brands place with any supplier. This contribution directly goes to workers. The contribution is largely based on the gap between statutory minimum wages and estimated living wages.

WageForward.org highlights how immediate action is required from brands to ensure workers receive full wages and benefits, including severance, during the pandemic. Proposals have been developed for an enforceable severance guarantee fund, a wage assurance and a supply-chain relief contribution.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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