Via its MFS Garment and Textiles project, SOMO and its partners aim to improve working conditions in the global garment industry. SOMO does this by building the knowledge and capacity of civil society organisations working in the garment sector and by actively participating in civil society alliances. With its research, SOMO and its partners aim to demonstrate that working conditions are still poor, despite several CSR initiatives in the garment industry. By stimulating cooperation between civil society organisations and by actively participating in civil society networks, SOMO aims to reinforce campaigning and advocacy efforts.

Summary of activities in:

• Four research projects: supply chain research in three Latin American countries; gender in the Latin American garment industry; freedom of association in India; impact of trade and investment agreements on labour conditions in the garment industry in Kenya.
• A presentation on labour conditions in the global garment sector in Milan.
• A conference in El Salvador on labour conditions and gender issues in the Latin American garment industry.
• Participation in the Dutch Clean Clothes Campaign.
• Participation in Red Puentes' working group on the garment and textile industry.

Results:

• Research on supply chains and on gender issues in the Latin American garment industry was used as the starting point for a three-day conference on labour conditions and gender issues in the region’s garment industry. This conference was attended by civil society organisations, trade unions and women's organisations from several Latin American countries. Cooperation between various organisations was strengthened and new alliances were made.
• Research in India on the freedom of association in Bangalore's garment factories was used by the Indian partner organisation Cividep (Civil Initiatives for Development and Peace India) to engage with local trade unions and garment workers in order to improve labour conditions in these factories.
• Research in Kenya on the impact of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) contributed to the analysis of the effects of trade and investment agreements on labour conditions.
• SOMO participates in the Red Puentes Working Group on the Textile and Garment Industry. Within this working group, joint research methodologies are developed and campaigning and advocacy strategies are discussed.
•  Cividep's research contributed to knowledge building and awareness raising among local trade unions and garment workers about the successes and constraints of trade unions in the garment sector in India and the extent of their impact on working conditions.
•  The three-day conference in El Salvador contributed to strengthening civil society networks. New alliances were made and plans for joint projects were formulated.
• The research projects contributed to building knowledge on trends and issues in the global garment industry. Specifically, knowledge about gender issues and flexibilisation of labour was improved.