Dear John,

This May Day we are proud to announce a breakthrough victory for women workers to eliminate gender-based violence and harassment (GVBH) in the garment supply chain! 

GLJ-ILRF, along with our partners Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) and Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU), joined with major Indian garment supplier Eastman Exports and industry leader H&M to sign agreements to end GVBH at a major factory complex in Tamil Nadu, India. The agreements promote the elimination of gender based violence and harassment and protects freedom of association as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO).  

This is a huge win! 

Working together across the global fashion supply chain, the Dindigul Agreement to Eliminate Gender-Based Violence and Harassment empowers more than 5,000 women garment workers to protect themselves and their coworkers and sets a new standard for worker safety and union rights that we will work to expand across the garment industry.

Image: Thivya Rakini, President of TTCU, signing the Dindigul Agreement.

This would not have happened without your support! In response to the death of Jeyasre Kathiravel, a young Dalit woman, student and member of TTCU, allies in labor, women’s rights, human rights, and corporate accountability joined together across the globe in a campaign calling for #JusticeForJeyasre calling for accountability for companies up and down the garment supply chain. And we won!

This is just the beginning. The Dindigul Agreement is a critical victory and also a beginning for grassroots-led change across the garment industry in South and Southeast Asia where Gender Based Violence and Harassment remains all too common. We continue efforts to eliminate gender based violence and harassment and promote decent work on fashion supply chains.   

In Solidarity, 

Jennifer (JJ) Rosenbaum

Executive Director

Global Labor Justice - International Labor Rights Forum

Join Us and Take Action Now!

• Celebrate May Day and send the organizers of TTUC a quick congratulatory message!
  
• Register for our upcoming event with campaign leaders and key allies to discuss the success of the campaign, plans for expansion, and how to support the cause.
• Donate and continue the fight to end GBVH in the workplace.

Thank you in advance for taking action! Your support directly improves the lives of garment workers and contributes to a growing demand for decent work across global supply chains.