International Labor Rights Forum

Last updated
International Labor Rights Forum
Founded1986
Type Non-profit, Interest group
Location
  • Washington, D.C.
ServicesMedia attention, direct-appeal campaigns, research, lobbying
FieldsProtecting labor rights
Key people
 Judy Gearhart
Website laborrights.org

The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) is a nonprofit advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., U.S., that describes itself as "an advocate for and with the working poor around the world." ILRF, formerly the "International Labor Rights Education & Research Fund", was founded in 1986, and the organization's mission statement reads: "ILRF believes that all workers have the right to a safe working environment where they are treated with dignity and respect, and where they can organize freely to defend and promote their rights and interests. ILRF works to develop practical and effective tools to assist workers in winning enforcement of protections for their basic rights, and hold labor rights violators accountable."

Contents

History

After Kailash Satyarthi and Bread for the World founded Rugmark in 1994, ILRF helped the nascent foundation open a U.S.-based office in Washington, D.C., in 1995. The two groups continued to share offices afterward.

In 2007, the litigation department of ILRF, noted for its use of the Alien Tort Claims Act in litigation against those who violate labor rights, was spun off into a separate organization, International Rights Advocates ("IRAdvocates"). Although it retains legal staff, the ILRF focuses primarily on research, lobbying, boycott campaigns and various other advocacy roles.

Rana Plaza collapse

After the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory on April 24, 2013, the ILRF appeared in the media to provide an analysis on the overall situation and respond to the actions of associated companies in the wake of the incident. The collapse resulted in the death of 1,129 garment workers, highlighting working conditions that were described as those of a "sweatshop" and remuneration that was considered "subsistence," while garments of high-end fashion labels and the U.S. government were found in the rubble. [1] Liana Foxvog, ILRF's director of organizing and communications at the time, commented in regard to the U.S. government garments that were found: [2]

... the fact that Marines' logo clothing was found in the rubble of the sweatshop fire should serve as a wake-up call to the U.S. Government to put into place safeguards to ensure decent working conditions in government supply chains and among licensees.

In June 2013, U.S. President Barack Obama announced the suspension of trade privileges with the Bangladeshi government until significant labor issues were resolved. [3] [4]

By July 2013, the "Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative" proposal was released by the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, which was formed by a group of North American companies involved with the Bangladeshi manufacturing sector, including Walmart, Target, J.C. Penney and Gap. [5] The key amendments of the proposal were the establishment of a hotline for workers to report concerns, the completion of inspections and the funding of safety upgrades to the garment facilities. The companies behind the Worker Safety Initiative had raised US$42 million worth of grants to improve factory infrastructure, and $100 million in low-rate loans and access to capital. [4]

The ILRF was critical of the Worker Safety Initiative and Foxvog explained to the media that: the proposal was not legally binding; the hotline was ineffective because complaints would be received by the company without the involvement of an independent party; and the corresponding funds were insufficient. The ILRF, as well as other experts in the area, had calculated that it would cost around US$300,000 to $500,000 for each factory to be upgraded, meaning that a total of at least $1 billion was required to fulfill the aim of the Worker Safety Initiative. Furthermore, the ILRF, which was supported by the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO) U.S. trade union federation, stated that workers would still require their wages while the renovations were being undertaken to survive. [4]

The ILRF dismissed claims by the National Retail Federation, which feared the instatement of an increased legal liability upon the clothing companies, and supported the "Accord on Fire and Building Safety" that had been signed by European companies and some U.S. brands by July 2013. The Accord was legally binding and provided workers with the ability to seek arbitration for their grievances, which could result in a fine for the company if a breach was detected—Foxvog stated that the Accord allowed for a neutral arbiter and was not related to a class action. [4]

The ILRF then published a December 2013 article in which it called for the U.S. federal government to enforce labor standards for overseas procurement including the option to sanction contractor firms that "do not comply with applicable laws and regulations and internationally accepted labor standards." The importance of independent monitoring and the engagement of workers and unions were also emphasized by the ILRF. [3] Björn Skorpen Claeson, an ILRF senior policy analyst at the time, said to the Huffington Post: [3]

The government should expect to pay for products made in decent working conditions, in compliance with all applicable labor standards, by workers who earn a living wage—that is, a fair price. ... In the context of procurement, paying a fair price is the way the government "invests" in compliance.

The Dangerous Silence: Exchanges Turn Blind Eye to Suppliers report was published by the ILRF on February 12, 2014, highlighting the role of U.S. military exchanges in the Bangladeshi garment industry. [6] The report, of which Claeson is the principal author, [2] states that some of the military exchanges "remain ignorant of flagrant violations in their supplier factories, because the industry audit reports failed to disclose them." The director of the ILRF at the time, Judy Gearhart, said that "it's not acceptable for U.S. government-owned companies to be not holding up the highest bar" and that the issue presents a "huge risk" to the reputation of the U.S. [7]

Activities

ILRF, working in coalition with other human rights and sweatshop-oriented NGOs, uses a diverse range of mechanisms to promote its vision of labor rights.

According to its website, the ILRF has worked directly to promote labor rights through:

Campaigns

Fairness in Flowers

ILRF's Fairness in Flowers Campaign was launched in 2003 to promote the rights of workers in the cut flower industry. [8] ILRF advocates on behalf of the workers, supports a legal center in Ecuador that helps them bring work-related grievances against their employers, and collaborates with certification initiatives like Fair Flowers Fair Plants (FFP) and Veriflora.[ verification needed ]

Child labor

Approximately 211 million of the world's children, between the ages of 5 and 14, work at least part-time, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), the tripartite body representing governments, labor, and employees. Of these, 120 million children are working full-time to help support their impoverished families. Although child labor is most common in developing countries, it is found throughout the world, including in the United States. Many of these children are forced into the workforce to become beggars, farm hands, and factory workers. They are exposed to conditions extremely harmful to their physical and mental well-being. ILRF has helped develop programs to fight child labor [9] and is involved in monitoring conditions in various regions of the world. ILRF is also currently engaged in two corporate campaigns related to child labor: one targeting the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company for their use of child labor on a rubber plantation in Liberia and the other focusing on the chocolate industry for child labor on cocoa farms in West Africa. [10]

Rights For Working Women Campaign

ILRF has recently developed a Rights For Working Women Campaign which seeks to alleviate labor conditions that disproportionately affect working women in developing countries through research, public education, litigation, legislative action, and grassroots mobilization. [11] To begin the campaign, ILRF has undertaken a global initiative to promote increased awareness of and viable remedies for the problem of workplace sexual harassment. As of 1997, there were only thirty-six countries with legislation specifically targeting sexual harassment. Of those countries, only 12 were from Latin America, the Caribbean or Africa. [12] It is not uncommon for women to be subjected to bodily searches or fired for refusing sexual advances. [13] The prevalence of subcontracting and other forms of "flexible" work arrangements in the global economy make it very difficult for women to organize against such abuse.

Accord on Fire and Building Safety

Designed to hold companies around the world accountable to worker safety in sweatshop conditions, ILRF created the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in 2012. As of July 2017, the accord has been signed by over 200 apparel companies. [14] A list of 14 U.S. companies refused to sign the accord: Walmart, Gap, Macy's, Sears/Kmart, J. C. Penney, VF Corp., Target, Kohl's, Cato Fashions, Carter's, Nordstrom, American Eagle Outfitters, The Children's Place, and Foot Locker.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweatshop</span> Workplace that has socially unacceptable working conditions

A sweatshop or sweat factory is a crowded workplace with very poor or illegal working conditions, including little to no breaks, inadequate work space, insufficient lighting and ventilation, or uncomfortably or dangerously high or low temperatures. The work may be difficult, tiresome, dangerous, climatically challenging, or underpaid. Employees in sweatshops may work long hours with unfair wages, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage; child labor laws may also be violated. Women make up 85 to 90% of sweatshop workers and may be forced by employers to take birth control and routine pregnancy tests to avoid supporting maternity leave or providing health benefits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coalition of Immokalee Workers</span> Other organization in Immokalee, United States

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is a worker-based human rights organization focusing on social responsibility in corporate supply chains, human trafficking, gender-based violence at work and occupational health and safety.

The Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights, formerly known as the National Labor Committee, was a non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) that investigates human and labor rights abuses committed by large multinational corporations producing goods in the developing world. The Institute was headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with offices in Bangladesh and Central America. Charles Kernaghan served as the Executive Director. The Institute published investigations with the goal of influencing public opinion and corporate policy. It is widely considered to be the organization that began the late-20th-century anti-sweatshop movement in America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fair Labor Association</span>

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a non-profit collaborative effort of universities, civil society organizations, and businesses.

The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) is the garment industry's largest alliance of labour unions and non-governmental organizations. The civil society campaign focuses on the improvement of working conditions in the garment and sportswear industries. Formed in the Netherlands in 1989, the CCC has campaigns in 15 European countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The CCC works with a partner network of more than 250 organizations around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile industry in Bangladesh</span> Regional economic sector in South Asia

The textile and clothing industries provide a single source of growth in Bangladesh's rapidly developing economy. Exports of textiles and garments are the principal source of foreign exchange earnings. By 2002 exports of textiles, clothing, and ready-made garments (RMG) accounted for 77% of Bangladesh's total merchandise exports. Emerging as the world's second-largest exporter of ready-made garment (RMG) products, Bangladesh significantly bolstered employment within the manufacturing sector.

Anti-sweatshop movement refers to campaigns to improve the conditions of workers in sweatshops, i.e. manufacturing places characterized by low wages, poor working conditions and often child labor. It started in the 19th century in industrialized countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to improve the conditions of workers in those countries. These campaigns are meant to improve the working conditions through advocacy for higher wages, safer conditions, unionization and other protections. While they are meant to undermine the reputation of companies using sweatshop labor, they are not statistically significant as intended.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Child labour in Bangladesh</span>

Child labour in Bangladesh is significant, with 4.7 million children aged 5 to 14 in the work force in 2002-03. Out of the child labourers engaged in the work force, 83% are employed in rural areas and 17% are employed in urban areas. Child labour can be found in agriculture, poultry breeding, fish processing, the garment sector and the leather industry, as well as in shoe production. Children are involved in jute processing, the production of candles, soap and furniture. They work in the salt industry, the production of asbestos, bitumen, tiles and ship breaking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweatshop-free</span> Ethical label for garments

Sweatshop-free or sweat free is a term first used by American Apparel, a famous American clothing brand, which means coercion-free, fair-compensation for the garment workers who manufacture their products. The aim of sweatshop-free wish to ensure that all employees are treated fairly and products are made in good working conditions. Sweatshop-free standards include the right to collective bargaining, non-poverty wages, safe workplaces, back wages, and non-harassment. It has been heavily featured in American Apparel’s advertisements and become a common term in the garment industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Ziff</span>

Sara Ziff is an American fashion model, filmmaker, and labor activist. She is the founder and executive director of the Model Alliance, a nonprofit organization in New York City.

Nike, Inc. has been accused of using sweatshops and worker abuse to produce footwear and apparel in East Asia. After rising prices and the increasing cost of labor in Korean and Taiwanese factories, Nike began contracting in countries elsewhere in Asia, which includes parts of India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. It sub-contracted factories without reviewing the conditions, based on the lowest bid. Nike's usage of sweatshops originates to the 1970's. However, it wasn't until 1991, when a report by Jeff Ballinger was published detailing their insufficient payment of workers and the poor conditions in their Indonesian factories, that these sweatshops came under the media and human rights scrutiny that continues to today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fair Wear Foundation</span> Garment industry activist organization

Fair Wear Foundation (Fair Wear) is an independent multi-stakeholder organisation that works with garment brands, garment workers and industry influencers to improve labour conditions in garment factories. Receiving the Fair Wear stamp of approval does not guarantee any existing quality of labour standards; instead it only demonstrates a stated interest in working toward improvement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Dhaka garment factory fire</span> Fatal industrial accident

The 2012 Dhaka garment factory fire broke out on 24 November 2012, in the Tazreen Fashion factory in the Ashulia district on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh. At least 117 people were confirmed dead in the fire, and over 200 were injured, making it the deadliest factory fire in the nation's history. The cause of the fire was not determined. It was initially presumed to be caused by an electrical short circuit, the cause of 80% of factory fires in Bangladesh. A widely criticized government report alleged an act of "sabotage", without identifying who committed it or why. This fire and others similar to it have led to numerous proposed reforms in workers' rights and safety laws in Bangladesh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rana Plaza collapse</span> 2013 industrial building collapse in Savar, Bangladesh

The Rana Plaza collapse occurred on 24 April 2013, when the eight-storey "Rana Plaza" commercial building collapsed due to a structural failure. The rescue team's search ended on 13 May 2013, with a confirmed death toll of 1,134. Approximately 2,500 injured people were rescued from the building. It is considered as one of the deadliest structural failures in modern human history, as well as the deadliest garment-factory disaster in history, and the deadliest industrial accident in the history of Bangladesh. Amnesty International called this "The most shocking recent example of business-related human rights abuse."

The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was signed on 15 May 2013. It is a five-year independent, legally binding Global Framework Agreement between global brands, retailers, and trade unions designed to build a safe and healthy Bangladeshi Ready Made Garment (RMG) Industry. The agreement was created in the immediate aftermath of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh that resulted in the death of more than 1100 people and injured more than 2000. In June 2013, an implementation plan was agreed leading to the incorporation of the Bangladesh Accord Foundation in the Netherlands in October 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing industry</span> Industry encompassing the design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of clothes

Clothing industry or garment industry summarizes the types of trade and industry along the production and value chain of clothing and garments, starting with the textile industry, embellishment using embroidery, via the fashion industry to apparel retailers up to trade with second-hand clothes and textile recycling. The producing sectors build upon a wealth of clothing technology some of which, like the loom, the cotton gin, and the sewing machine heralded industrialization not only of the previous textile manufacturing practices. Clothing industries are also known as allied industries, fashion industries, garment industries, or soft goods industries.

The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, also known as "the Alliance" or AFBWS, is a group of 28 major global retailers formed to develop and launch the Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative, a binding, five-year undertaking with the intent of improving safety in Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG) factories after the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse. Collectively, Alliance members represent the majority of North American imports of ready-made garments from Bangladesh, produced in more than 700 factories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Export-oriented employment</span> Employment in multinational corporations international industrial factories

Export-oriented employment refers to employment in multinational corporations' international industrial factories, usually located in developing countries. Such factories produce goods and services for sale in other countries. While these multinational producers have globally expanded women's access to employment, evidence suggests they do so by reinforcing traditional gender roles or creating new gender inequalities. Such gender inequities allow multinational firms to greater exploit profits per worker than they would otherwise due to the decreased labor cost. This decrease in the cost of labor comes as a result of the relegation of women to certain occupations. Studies show that in the quest for lower unit labor costs, export-oriented facilities create poor working conditions.

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a UK-based independent body founded on 9 June 1998, which brings together companies, trade unions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure compliance with international labour standards in the global supply chains of member companies. Minimum ethical standards are set out in the ETI Base Code.

The National Garment Workers Federation (NGWF) is a registered national trade union federation of garment workers in Bangladesh. With 87 registered factory unions, it ifs considered one of the four main federations of garment workers' unions. NGWF is the initiator and a member of the Bangladesh Garments Workers Unity Council and a member of the Bangladesh Center for Workers' Solidarity. It is affiliated with the IndustriALL Global Union and one of the signatories of the Bangladesh Accord.

References

  1. ↑ Hoskins, Tansy (2015-04-23). "Reliving the Rana Plaza factory collapse: a history of cities in 50 buildings, day 22". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  2. 1 2 Matthew Mosk (12 February 2014). "Dangerous Third-World Factories Made US Military-Logo Clothes, Report Says". ABC News. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Michelle Chen (5 January 2014). "The U.S. Government Uses Sweatshops, Too". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jacob Davidson (11 July 2013). "Walmart's Worker-Safety Plan Draws Ire of Labor Activists". Time. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "About". Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety. 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Publications - Dangerous Silence: Exchanges Turn Blind Eye to Suppliers". International Labor Rights Forum. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  7. ↑ Dave Jamieson (14 February 2014). "'Blind' To Abuses, U.S. Military Pressured To Raise Standards In Clothing Supply Chain". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "FRONTLINE/WORLD . Rough Cut . Ecuador: Flower Power . Related Links | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2017-08-01.
  9. ↑ Satre, Lowell J. (Lowell Joseph), 1942- (2005). Chocolate on trial : slavery, politics, and the ethics of business (1st ed.). Athens, Ohio: Ohio University Press. ISBN   0821416251. OCLC   58478938.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ "Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry". Food Empowerment Project. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  11. ↑ "WOMEN'S RIGHTS". ILRF. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  12. ↑ "Nearly 235 million women worldwide lack legal protections from sexual harassment at work". UCLA Newsroom. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  13. ↑ "Woman fired for refusing to have sex with boss". The African Daily. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  14. ↑ "Official Signatories | The Bangladesh Accord". The Bangladesh Accord. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
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