RMG workers helpline to become independent initiative

The Alliance made the announcement as it moves toward transitioning its factory safety and worker empowerment initiatives to an independent Safety Monitoring Organization (SMO) managed in partnership with credible, local partners.

“Amader Kotha has empowered hundreds of thousands of garment workers to report issues of concern anonymously and without fear of retribution,” said ambassador Jim Moriarty, executive director of the Alliance. “We are incredibly proud to leave the Helpline as a legacy, and that this important resource will continue, and grow, under the leadership of the Helpline project partners.”

The Helpline allows garment workers to report and resolve substantive issues in their factories, ranging from emergencies and urgent safety concerns to workplace abuse and wage compensation disputes. Since its inception, more than 233,000 inbound calls from workers in over 1,000 factories have been received. To date, more than 80 per cent of all substantive issues have been resolved, Alliance said in a statement.

Through a donation made in the name of former Alliance Independent Chair, the Hon. Ellen Tauscher, Alliance member brands will continue to fund Amader Kotha in its initial phase under new management.

“The Amader Kotha Helpline has become a valued asset for all parties,” explained Doug Cahn, president of The Cahn Group and global project manager for the Helpline. “Factory managers learn about and fix problems quickly before they escalate. Brands and retailers have confidence that a system is in place to identify and resolve compliance issues without their direct intervention. And workers have a trusted system that they can rely on 24/7 to achieve results.” (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India