Consultative meeting on Improving Working
Conditions in the garment Industries

A consultative meeting on Improving working Conditions in the garment Industries among representatives of NGOs of this region was held at Vikram Hotel on 18-11-2001. 19 NGOs those who are working among the labour community took part in it. Mr. A. Aloysius, Director, SAVE, in his inaugural address pointed out that today today garment Industry frequently talks about Ethical trade Initiatives, social clause on labour standard. Many production units have obtained or opt for certifications of ISO 9000.

ISO 14000, SA 8000, WRAP, Fair Wear Foundation, Amana link etc. Each Certificate was to improve the working condition in garment sector. It this context Trade Unions and NGOs have more responsibility to monitor for better working conditions in the garment industry and they must develop the network among them. We should come closer to each other on Campaign issues.

Mr. Jantein Meijer from the India Committee of the Netherlands briefly introduced about CCC. She said that Clean Cloths Campaign was started 10 years ago in the Netherlands. Now it has a wider network at 12 European Countries. It's objective was to raise the awareness about the need for better working conditions in Garment and leather industries through the world among the consumers.

CCC works for workers education and their rights. Clean Clothes means Cloths manufactured should have ethical values. Clean Clothes Campaign has initiated its Verification of labours standards, workers education & Legal actions. In 1998 CCC initiated campaign for implementation of code of conduct in the garment industry throughout the world.

CCC's code conduct is based on ILO standards. In this network employer's federation, trade unions and NGO's are co-operating within different frame works. The main objective is raising the labour standards in the apparel sector. Buyers from many European and North American countries have accepted to implement in the apparel sector. Buyers from many European and North American countries have accepted to implement the CCC's code of conduct. Buyer's are implementing this code of conduct through their suppliers.

It is conducted by pilot projects involving the buyers and manufactures in this process. Even in Tirupur many suppliers are following the CCC's of conduct among workers, Trade union, Procedures, Exporters and NGOs etc,. CCC's delegates explain some success experience of campaign. That memorandum explains about the code of conduct consumers support for it. In the Netherlands an urgent appeal booklet is distributed to 300 letter writers. Thy were often writing letters to their friends and others. Every time they write a letter to different retailer. The next important success was verification of code of conduct.