Eleven years ago Rana Plaza, a garment factory in Bangladesh, collapsed. It was eight stories high and housed five garment factories. It was built without the proper permits and the fifth up to eighth floors had been added without supporting walls.

 On 23 April 2013, large cracks were found in the building. The shops and the bank on the lower floors closed immediately, but the garment factory owners on the upper floors ignored the warnings and forced the workers to return to work the following day. On 24 April, the building collapsed during working hours, trapping thousands of people inside. 2,500 people were rescued. 1134 died, unable to escape.

 A horrible abuse of workers, a lack of due care, and worse - a clear case of putting production and profits before human lives. This tragedy led to a change in Bangladeshi law. All garment factories must be inspected by a government approved agency. The International Labour Organisation also created the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety- a legally binding agreement between brands, retailers and unions to improve safety standards in the garment industry in Bangladesh.

 So, all has been resolved and Bangladesh, one of the largest garment producing countries in the world along with China,Vietnam, India and Turkey is now a place where garment workers have decent working conditions.

 Sadly, that is not the case. Despite widespread outrage at the Rana Plaza collapse, and some initiatives to make improvements, garment workers, and not only in Bangladesh, are some of the poorest paid in the world. Thousands of supply factories are competing for the contracts of large retail brands and there is massive downward pressure on wages and demand for greater efficiency. It is very common to see refugees and immigrant women involved in informal work, doing long hours without proper breaks, in poor working conditions.

 Even factories which pay the minimum wage are keeping thousands below the poverty line, as described by Oxfam’s report Made in Poverty, the True Price of Fashion1 because minimum wage does not reflect the real costs of food, shelter, education and medical care for even a small family. What is needed is a living wage.

 But more than that, what is needed is a new regard for human rights; a new philosophy for the fashion business world. Global trends2 show that consumers are discerning and socially conscious. They care about sustainability, about human rights and about transparency.

 It’s time for the fashion industry to show up, put people and the planet before profit (though in a well thought out model both are entirely possible- we are talking about business here not charity) and clean up their act.

 That is what Fashion Revolution week 3 is all about. It is about making some noise and exerting pressure for change.

For our part, as the voice of the Fair Trade Movement in Australia, we are well versed in these matters. Our members live out these values, as embodied in the World Fair Trade Organisation 10 Principles4  every day. They run businesses, including fashion businesses, which offer meaningful employment and the chance for advancement, a living age, decent working conditions and which use sustainable raw materials and production practices.

 Perhaps your business is already kicking goals and striving to do even better? Why not join us?5 Together we can offer a real alternative to consumers who give a damn. We offer peer support, education and the chance to be part of a movement, the Fair Trade movement which will be the shape of a better future for fashion and for all businesses.

 Vive La Revolution!

More resources

Made in Poverty the True Price of Fashion Summary Oxfam Australia 

 Trends in the Fashion Industry. The Perception of Sustainability and Circular Economy

FashionRevolution.org

 10 Principles of Fair Trade

Become a Fair Trade Member