Category: Garment
Yet Another Space for Workers’ Stories? Here’s Why This One Matters
Yet Another Space for Workers’ Stories? Here’s Why This One Matters. Discover the Lives Behind the Labels Through Workers’ Observatory — Cividep’s New Digital Space. Beneath the glamour and affordability of fast fashion lies an intricate web of labour, where thousands of garment workers, mostly women, spend long hours crafting the designs we see on store racks. Yet, their stories — of struggle, resilience, and sacrifice — are rarely told. Cividep India’s new initiative, the Worker’s Observatory, gives us a much-needed look into their world, offering a platform for workers’ voices and using research and data to highlight the inequities deeply embedded in the industry.
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Field Diary
A Glance Into The Lives Of Workers With Bite-Sized Stories From Factories, Homes & Communities. Know how Cividep India and its partner organisations supported nearly 100 garment workers through capacity-building initiatives. Read how one worker confronted her supervisor with Cividep’s help, 12 workers overcame financial crises, and a crucial case led to the recovery of Rs. 5 lakh in unpaid wages.
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184 Women, Two Years, One Story of Labour: Report Documents The Reality of Karnataka’s Garment Workers
Cividep recently launched The Home & The World Of Work report and a documentary that capture the harsh realities of Karnataka’s women garment workers at the Bangalore International Centre. The report, based on interviews with 184 women garment workers over two years, paints a disturbing picture of the industry’s practices.
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Field Diary August 2024
A Glance Into The Lives Of Workers With Bite-Sized Stories From Factories, Homes & Communities. Workers At Le Shoe Factory Workers In Ambur Share How They Are Coping With Unbearable Summer Heat In Factories. Meanwhile Several Garment Workers In Bengaluru Report Facing Penalties For Taking Legitimate Leave. Also Read How A Team Of Garment Workers Creatively Brainstormed Solutions To Common Occupational Health And Workplace Issues At A Workshop.
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Respect Over Rupees: How One Garment Factory Prioritised Workers (and Earned Their Loyalty)
In a world of fast fashion and high turnover, Namasthe Garments defied the odds. For over 40 years, workers here stitched together not just garments, but a life of dignity. Respectful treatment, achievable targets, and a supportive management nurtured a loyal workforce, even with minimum wage salaries. Now, as the factory shuts down, its legacy of prioritizing people over profits remains an inspiration. This story explores the unique culture Namasthe cultivated, and the impact it had on the lives of its workers.
Read MoreField Diary July 2024
A Glance Into The Lives Of Workers With Bite-Sized Stories From Factories, Homes & Communities. Workers At Le Shoe Factory Workers In Ambur Share How They Are Coping With Unbearable Summer Heat In Factories. Meanwhile Several Garment Workers In Bengaluru Report Facing Penalties For Taking Legitimate Leave. Also Read How A Team Of Garment Workers Creatively Brainstormed Solutions To Common Occupational Health And Workplace Issues At A Workshop.
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The Rise of Garment Worker Leaders in Bengaluru
A Cividep-Azim Premji Foundation program empowered Bengaluru garment workers. Over three years, 600 workers gained leadership and communication skills, enabling them to fight for better pay, working conditions, and healthcare. Worker Resource Centers provided support and education, fostering solidarity and replacing fear with confidence. This program not only created leaders but also improved mental wellbeing through access to counselling.
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Field Diary June 2024
A Glance Into The Lives Of Workers With Bite-Sized Stories From Factories, Homes & Communities. A Health Screening Camp Organised For Garment Workers In Bengaluru Reveals A High Prevalence Of Vitamin D Deficiency And Anemia. Meanwhile Cividep’s Partner NGOs Organised Summer Camps For Children Of Garment Workers. Also Read Field Notes From A Cividep – India Labourline Team’s Interactions With Low-Wage Workers Employed In The Industrial Estates of Chennai.
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Field Diary May 2024
This issue of Field Diary delves into inspiring stories of worker empowerment and solidarity across industries. A Cividep -India Labourline team rescued expolited migrant workers at a mill in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile Worker Education Enabled Electronics Workers in Tamil Nadu In Accessing their Right To Health Protection , While Leather Homeworkers Stood Together To Demand Fair Pay. Also Read Learnings From A Cividep Team Conducting In-Factory Research on Occupational Health of Its Garment Workers.
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Why Robust BRSR Reporting Is Good For Businesses & Labour Rights
A recent development in India, the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework, has generated significant interest. BRSR mandates the top 1,000 listed companies to disclose their environmental and social impact alongside financial data. A Cividep India workshop explored the potential of BRSR to strengthen ESG standards in the country. This blog post examines the key takeaways from the workshop, including the opportunities and challenges associated with BRSR implementation.
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Field Diary March 2024
This issue of Field Diary delves into inspiring stories of worker solidarity across industries. While a homeworkers’ collective in Tamil Nadu’s leather industry is challenging unfair wages, garment factory workers in Bengaluru address issues in accessing social security claims. We also see electronics factory workers responding to exploitation by dubious contractors.
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Why Do Lockdown Blues Still Plague Teens From Garment Worker Families?
The pandemic lockdown exposed the existing cracks in low-wage garment worker families. While mothers faced job losses and financial strain, their adolescent daughters grappled with a silent crisis – deteriorating mental health. This blog post explores the gendered challenges these girls face, from increased household burdens to emotional neglect. We’ll also delve into resources and support systems that can help them navigate these difficult times.
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