Enforce mandatory labelling of clothing which states the work conditions of the people who make them. eg Fairtrade, SA8000, unregulated etc.

The Issue

This is important because consumers are currently unable to easily differentiate between clothing that is made under ethical circumstances, where workers are paid a living wage and work in a safe environment, and clothing that is made by people who are exploited, abused, unfairly paid, overworked, exposed to hazardous chemicals and unable to form a collective.

This recent documentary exposed ongoing violence and abuse in a Bangladeshi sweatshop - these conditions are common throughout the garment manufacturing industry. http://www.itv.com/news/2014-02-06/exposure-rana-plaza-bangladesh-garment-factory-conditions/

We label our eggs "free range" or "caged" so consumers can make an informed choice about what they're buying, we need to do the same with our clothes.

Garment industry workers who work in sweatshops are slaves. They have no power to improve their circumstances and often no alternative employment.

Fashion should be fun and fair. Our desire to look good should not result in vulnerable people in the third world being forced into enduring poverty, unsafe work environments and pay which isn't enough to live on.

Please support this petition to make a stand for the nameless, faceless people (mainly women and children) who are trapped in exploitative garment manufacturing work.

Please support this petition so that High Street retailers are unable to continue using sweatshops and being deliberately ambiguous about their ethical standards.

Please support this petition for the people who died in Rana Plaza, those who died in Tazreen, those who died in Garib & Garib, and those who died in smaller, unreported tragedies.

 

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Diamonds & DaisychainsPetition Starter
This petition had 1,002 supporters

The Issue

This is important because consumers are currently unable to easily differentiate between clothing that is made under ethical circumstances, where workers are paid a living wage and work in a safe environment, and clothing that is made by people who are exploited, abused, unfairly paid, overworked, exposed to hazardous chemicals and unable to form a collective.

This recent documentary exposed ongoing violence and abuse in a Bangladeshi sweatshop - these conditions are common throughout the garment manufacturing industry. http://www.itv.com/news/2014-02-06/exposure-rana-plaza-bangladesh-garment-factory-conditions/

We label our eggs "free range" or "caged" so consumers can make an informed choice about what they're buying, we need to do the same with our clothes.

Garment industry workers who work in sweatshops are slaves. They have no power to improve their circumstances and often no alternative employment.

Fashion should be fun and fair. Our desire to look good should not result in vulnerable people in the third world being forced into enduring poverty, unsafe work environments and pay which isn't enough to live on.

Please support this petition to make a stand for the nameless, faceless people (mainly women and children) who are trapped in exploitative garment manufacturing work.

Please support this petition so that High Street retailers are unable to continue using sweatshops and being deliberately ambiguous about their ethical standards.

Please support this petition for the people who died in Rana Plaza, those who died in Tazreen, those who died in Garib & Garib, and those who died in smaller, unreported tragedies.

 

avatar of the starter
Diamonds & DaisychainsPetition Starter

The Decision Makers

European Parliament
European Parliament
Responded
There are two ways to petition the European Parliament, by post or via the online form. Both ways are explained in more detail at the following link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/00533cec74/Petitions.html Best wishes
Keith Taylor
Keith Taylor
MEP
Responded
There is an urgent international need for greater co-operation on measures to improve standards at the workplace and improve the often dire conditions of workers globally in the garment industry. In recent years, we have seen disasters at garment factories threaten and claim the lives of thousands of textile workers in Pakistan, Bangladesh and many other countries. In addition, these workers are struggling against poor working conditions and meagre wages. Introducing labelling on clothing to allow consumers to determine the working conditions of those who manufactured the clothes is an idea which needs to be taken directly to the European Commission. I've been in contact with the creator of this petition to offer my advice and look at ways this issue could be addressed at European level. Keith Taylor Green MEP for South East England
Catherine Bearder
Catherine Bearder
MEP
Sharon Bowles
Sharon Bowles
MEP

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Petition created on 13 March 2014