Phnom Penh: In an effort to improve wages and working conditions for garment workers, IndustriALL Global Union is urging brands and retailers sourcing from Cambodia to sign the "Agreement to Support Collectively Bargained Wages in the Garment, Textile, Footwear and Travel Goods Industry in Cambodia.
Framework: The agreement provides a structured framework to support the implementation of collective bargaining agreements at the factory level.
Goals: The agreement strives to improve working conditions and wages for workers, strengthen industrial relations, establish a dispute resolution mechanism, and foster skills development.
Commitment: Brands that sign the agreement commit to an industrial relations model that balances the priorities of workers, manufacturers, and retailers. The initiative aligns with due diligence requirements regarding stakeholder engagement, wages, and freedom of association, promoting a transparent and responsible approach to sourcing practices.
Legally Binding: IndustriALL is signing legally binding agreements with global brands to ensure brand support for collective bargaining agreements at their suppliers.
Brand Support: Brands commit to upholding their production volume in Cambodia, regardless of the collective agreement's outcome, and to earmark labor costs.
Benefits: The agreement is expected to benefit the brands' reputations in terms of sustainability and compliance with due diligence regulations. The agreement can also benefit employers by retaining orders places.
Related initiatives: The agreement is part of the ACT (Action, Collaboration, Transformation) program in Cambodia, which enables brands to engage with unions, manufacturers, and fellow retailers. ACT is an agreement between unions, brands, and global retailers created almost ten years ago that involves twenty major clothing companies to improve working conditions in key garment-producing countries.
IndustriALL Global Union is urging brands and retailers sourcing from Cambodia to sign the "Agreement to Support Collectively Bargained Wages in the Garment, Textile, Footwear and Travel Goods Industry in Cambodia" in an effort to improve wages and working conditions for garment workers.
