Expert meeting towards decent work in the Indian textile and garment industry and the role of the Netherlands

On the 3rd of December 2013, the India Committee of the Netherlands, Clean Clothes Campaign, FNV Mondiaal and SOMO invite you for an expert meeting “Towards decent work in the Indian textile and garment industry and the role of the Netherlands”.

Three guests from South India will speak about their work and share their perspective on measures that can be taken to curb Sumangali and other labour rights abuses in the Indian garment sector, with a focus on supply chain responsibility of Dutch buying companies.

Speakers:

• Ms. Viaykula Mary from SAVE(opens in new window) works on rescuing and rehabilitating child labourers and supporting women workers in the textile industry. Ms Mary leads the Labour Resource Center (LRC) that promotes labour standards and the rights of workers. Together with READ, Save is involved in monitoring of integrated manufacturers in the Tirupur region.
• READ, represented by Ms. Maheswari Murugan, is an organisation established by Dalits, to promote their rights. Dalits, or so-called ‘untouchables’, are the lowest group in the Indian caste hierarchy and therefore face a discrimination and exploitation. The majority of Sumangali workers has a Dalit background. Maheshwari has herself worked three years in a spinning mill.
• Anita Cheria is involved in the work of both CIVIDEP(opens in new window) and Munnade, in Bangalore, India. Cividep is a labour rights NGO, that does research on labour conditions in the electronics, garments, mining and banking sectors and has set up workers’ rights initiatives in these and other sectors. Munnade is a union representing more than 900 female workers, from 15 garment factories.

When: 3 December 2013, 16.30-18.00 hrs.
Coffee and registration from 16.00. Drinks afterwards.
Where: Johanneszaal, Oude Molstraat 37, Den Haag
Free entrance