Publications Garments & Textiles
Up one levelMaid in India
In this report the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) present their findings on the labour conditions in the South Indian garment and textile industry. In Tamil Nadu young women workers continue to suffer exploitative working conditions while making garments for Western brands. Thousands of girls work under recruitment and employment schemes that amount to bonded labour.
Still 'captured by cotton'?
In this briefing paper, SOMO and the India Committee of the Netherlands, give a short update on their upcoming reserach following the 2011 Sumanagli report. This report uncovered troubling evidence that products for big garment brands and retailers were being made by girls under exploitative working conditions in Southern India.
Aspectos de género en la industria de indumentaria latinoamericana
La fuerza laboral de la industria de la vestimenta mundialestá altamente feminizada. La gran mayoría (aproximadamente un 85%) de los trabajadores empleados en este sector son mujeres. En general, la industria de la vestimenta es uno de los sectores con los salarios más bajos y ofrece malas condiciones de trabajo. Dentro del sector, también hay una clara segregación por género conforme a la cual las mujeres se encuentran en los trabajos que requieren menor nivel de calificación, los peor pagados y los más precarios. Cuando las tareas se vuelven más avanzadas o cuando se requiere ejercer la autoridad, se tiende a emplear a hombres. Como a menudo en la industria de la vestimenta es la mujer la que soporta las peores condiciones, es importante analizar porqué existe y persiste esta situación.
Captured by Cotton
Exploited Dalit girls produce garments in India for European and US markets
Gender aspects in the Latin American garment industry
The global garment industry labour force is highly feminised. The vast majority (about 85%1) of workers employed in this sector are women. In general, the garment industry is one of the lowest-paid sectors and offers poor working conditions. Within the sector there is also a clear gender segregation whereby women are mostly found in the lowest-skilled, lowest-paid and most precarious jobs. When tasks get more advanced or where the exercise of authority is required men tend to be employed. As it is often the women in the garment industry that endure the worst conditions it is important to analyse why this situation exists and persists.
