Sri Lanka Floods: Fashion brands must act to protect workers

As devastating floods continue across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia, we are calling on international brands sourcing from these countries, together with factory owners and governments, to ensure that workers don’t suffer any additional hardship.

It has been estimated that over 1,150 deaths have occurred and over 367 people are missing. Internet access has been impacted, as well as vital travel infrastructure, leaving many unable to reach family members. Thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds of thousands of homes destroyed.

Comrades in Sri Lanka have reported that the level of destruction is unprecedented and expected to cause significant ongoing impact, with food and water shortages predicted. Over 1.1 million people have been displaced in Sri Lanka...

In the face of this catastrophic damage, fashion brands must:

1) Ensure all workers continue to be paid.

2) Continue to process orders and pay suppliers to facilitate the payment of wages.

3) Ensure workers are provided with appropriate support and time off to mourn family tragedies and deal with the aftermath of this disaster.

4) Ensure any factories impacted by the cyclone and flooding only resume production when it is safe to do so, and that these delays do not impact payment.

[...]

The fashion industry desperately needs a Just Transition to fairer system that protects people and planet and it must happen now...