Workers in developing countries get a pretty raw

deal

They’re paid minimal wages and are often

forced to work long hours in difficult

– often dangerous – conditions

In the sportswear and garment industry most of

these workers are women.

Many have migrated from rural areas where there

are few employment opportunities

Their reality is long and intensive working

days for very low pay

Workers who want to form unions and bargain

collectively frequently face...

...discrimination...

...harassment...

...threats of dismissal...

...and in some cases violent intimidation

Wages are barely enough for workers to get by on…

…let alone to support their families.

…let alone to support

their families

Yet while workers struggle to make ends

meet…

…they’re producing some of the world’s most

expensive and coveted brands

Brands that spend big dollars on glossy ad

campaigns

And some make millions of dollars in profits each

year

Many workers

believe that their

workplaces and their

lives can be better

Despite all the risks, many workers form

unions and organise for their rights and better

working conditions

These workers want the sportswear and garment

industry to recognise their basic rights...

Send a message to their employers…

Freedom of Association

To earn a living wage

Fair work conditions

Freedom from workplace violence &harassment

Oxfam Australia supports these workers by ensuring

their voices are heard

www.oxfam.org.au/labour-rights-action

Oxfam Australia particularly supports and encourages

women workers—as the majority of

sportswear workers—to take a leading role

We support unions to campaign for workers

rights, lobby companies and sometimes

governments to respect labour rights.

We provide resources and support to worker

organisations.

We help strengthen the labour rights movement by

working in international coalitions.

Oxfam supports worker

organisations in building

networks and coalitions

Oxfam supports training opportunities and leadership

training to women

Oxfam promotes solutions by researching labour rights

issues and making recommendations to major

brands

Has there been success in supporting workers’ rights?

There is now greater transparency and public

disclosure by major sports brands who publish factory

names and addresses

There are labour codes and compliance staff who seek to monitor and enforce labour

standards

There has been increased dialogue

between sports brands and civil society

The legal minimum wage is now mostly paid

 

Living and working conditions in some sportswear supplier

factories have improved

New opportunities have arisen out of alternative business models that support the rights of

workers, like the Solidarity Cooperative in Thailand

BUT

There remains much work to be done

Workers need your support:www.oxfam.org.au/labour-rights-action

Why?

Sportswear companies send conflicting messages to their supplier factories

Too often the policies of brands are not supported by their buying practices

Brands require their supplier factories to

respect labour rights, but their business model demands high quality

products with a fast turn around at a low cost

Brands may require suppliers to uphold rights

and safety, but don’t allocate sufficient

resources to ensure respect for those rights

So what can you do to support the efforts of

women and men sportswear workers to achieve a better life?

Every action can help make a difference

Join our campaign!www.oxfam.org.au/

support-workers-rights

Keep brands behaving!www.oxfam.org.au/labour-rights-action

www.oxfam.org.au/support-workers-rights

Photo Credits:

Tim Herbert/OxfamAUS*

Ben Adams/OxfamAUS*

Rino Hidayah/OxfamAUS*

Sarah Rennie/OxfamAUS*

Fernando Moleres/OxfamIntermon