The Tribunal held four public hearings in Sri Lanka (2011), Cambodia (2012), India (2012) and Indonesia (2014), followed by a final session in Sri Lanka (2015). This session was requested by the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), a network of Asian organisations campaigning for women’s rights in the garment industry and the recognition of a living wage as a fundamental human right. The session aimed to document and assess the nature and extent of exploitation and human rights violations against women workers in the textile sector in Asia, explore the violation of national and international laws by various stakeholders (governments, multinational corporations, domestic suppliers and international agencies) responsible for ensuring respect for human rights within the textile industry supply chain, and formulate recommendations to address the climate of impunity and prevent further labour exploitation. The Tribunal concluded that the working conditions of women in the garment sector in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, India and Indonesia exhibit serious deficiencies amounting to a systematic violation of their fundamental right to a dignified life.
Documentation:
- Session in Sri Lanka (Colombo, 27-30 March 2011)
- Session in Cambodia (Phnom Pehn, 5-8 February 2012)
- Session in India (Bengaluru, 22-25 November 2012)
- Session in Indonesia (Jakarta, 21-24 June 2014)
- Final Session in Sri Lanka (Colombo, 17-20 December 2015)
Requesting organisations: The Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), comprising up to 71 organisations, is a network spanning 17 countries in Asia, Europe and North America. It represents the apparel industry, trade unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), consumer groups and research institutions.
Session in Cambodia:
Cambodia Confederation of Trade Unions
Cambodia Labour Confederation
Community Legal Education Center
Cambodia National Confederation
Cambodia Women Movement Organization
National Union Alliance Chamber of Cambodia
Cambodian Confederation Unions
Cambodia Worker Center for Development
American Center for International Labor Solidarity
Session in India:
Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)
Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP)
New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
Garment and Allied Workers Union (GAWU)
Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU)
Karnataka Garment Workers Union (KGWU)
Garment Labour Union (GLU)
Garment and Fashion Workers Union (GAFWU)
Society for Labour and Development (SLD)
SAVE
CIVIDEP
FEDINA
Alternate Law Forum
Vimochana
Maraa
Session in Indonesia:
Federation of Independent Trade Union (GSBI)
Federasi of Indonesia Trade Union (FSBI)
National Trade Union (SPN) Trade Union Right Centre (TURC)
Intitute of Sedane Labour Information (LIPS)
Session in Sri Lanka:
- Cambodia Confederation of Trade Unions
- Cambodian Labour Confederation
- Community Legal Education Center
- Cambodian National Confederation
- Cambodia Women Movement Organisation
- National Union Alliance Chamber of Cambodia
- Cambodian Confederation of Unions
- Cambodia Worker Center for Development
- American Center For International Labor Solidarity
- Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS)
- Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)
- All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC)
- Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU)
- Hind Mazdoor Kisan Panchayat (HMKP)
- New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI)
- Garment and Allied Workers Union (GAWU)
- Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU)
- Karnataka Garment Workers Union (KGWU)
- Garment Labour Union (GLU)
- Garment and Fashion Workers Union (GAFWU)
- Society for Labour and Development (SLD)
- SAVE
- CIVIDEP
- FEDINA
- Alternate Law Forum
- Vimochana
- Maraa
- Asia Floor Wage Alliance
- GSBI
- FSBI
- SBSI’92
- SPN
- LIPS
- TURC
- National Free Trade Union
- United Federation of Labour (UFL)
- The Progress Union
- Red Flag Women Movement
- All Ceylon United Workers Union
- National Workers Congress (NWC)
- Right to Life
- Young Christian Workers (YCW)
- Dabindu Collective
- Womens’ Centre
- Movement of “StandUp”