"A Fairness Alliance" – Launch of the Textiles Partnership in the German Development Ministry" October 16, 2014

German Development Minister Gerd Müller was joined by representatives from the private sector, trade unions and civil society as he presided over the launch today of the Textiles Partnership. The aim of the Partnership, launched one-and-a-half years after Rana Plaza, is to achieve concrete improvements in social and environmental standards in the textiles and garment industry.Minister Müller: "I would like to thank all those who have played a part in the preparations for the launch of the Textiles Partnership over the last few months for their hard work and commitment. Together we will succeed in bringing about tangible improvements in the working and living conditions of the people who make our clothes under conditions that are sometimes completely unacceptable. We all agree that we do not wish to have clothes touching our bodies that have been produced in places where human rights are being trampled underfoot and people are being exploited and poisoned. With our fairness alliance, in addition to sending a visible signal, we are also taking the first step towards implementing these improvements, together, step by step, starting today."