Garment workers in BRIC nations earn unfair wage: Report

The study conducted by the Surrey Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES) using a Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA) approach has been published in The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. The research took into consideration all the workers involved in the manufacturing of garments, including cotton growers and miners who provide metal to make machinery.

A living wage was estimated by the researchers which would be sufficient for the workers for a decent standard of living and the workers were found to be making only half of the estimated living wage, as per the research.

Research fellow Dr Simon Mair, one of the leaders of the research, said that the research has revealed that the workers are not paid a sufficient living wage and hence the supply chain is unfair. He suggested that the companies involved should increase the living wage and either absorb the additional cost or pass it on to the consumers. Consumers may buy less if the products are expensive, resulting in a positive impact on the environment and a negative impact on employment.

Angela Druckman, professor of sustainable consumption and production and Tim Jackson, professor of sustainable development and director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP) within CES also participated in the research along with Mair. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India