I am suffering because I raised voice against the atrocities of the management in the Garment unit (Wingswear)” said Pima, who was dismissed from the company in 1995 for demanding right to decent work. This was one of the testimonies presented in the concluding meeting of the All India Rally of Garment and Sportswear Industry workers. More than three hundred workers and trade union activists were present at the Constitution Club today. Supported by all the major central trade unions and labour-support organizations, garment and sportswear workers participated in large numbers in the All India Rally organized in eight major garment producing centres viz. Tiruppur, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Surat, Kolkata and Ludhiana from July 19-31, 2004. Addressing the workers in the concluding meeting, Mr. Herman van Der Laan, Director ILO-India Office said that only through the solidarity amongst workers in the garment producing countries and also solidarity amongst workers and buyers around the world that the challenges of fierce international competition can be met for making Olympics ‘fair’ to workers. He promised to join in the crusade for improving the working conditions of the workers. 

In the context of the Athens Olympics, 2004, wherein the global focus is on sportspersons, Garments and Sportswear industry workers came together to highlight their exploitation and abuse at workplace. The Play Fair at the Olympics Campaign provided a platform for these workers to organize a united action. It is a global campaign and its Indian chapter is jointly organized by central trade unions AITUC, CITU, HMS, INTUC, UTUC, AICCTU, NTUI and organizations that are working on labour issues: CEC and SAVE. This campaign is intended to generate public consciousness towards observance of labour standards. This campaign is not against the spirit of Olympic Games, but workers are using this opportunity to bring forward their demands so that they can also enjoy the real spirit of the Olympics.

While making the presentation on behalf of organizing committee of India Campaign, Mr.J.John, Executive Director, Centre for Education & Communications described the events organized in various parts of India as part of the rally and listed some of the worst forms of exploitation that workers experience in this industry. The campaign stated clearly that “workers are the real torch bearers of Olympics”.  Later garment workers presented their testimonies.

The campaign specifically demanded the following:-

1.   The industry, employers and government should protect rights of workers: right to organize, living wages, social security, legal work hour and safe working conditions in this sector. The government was urged to strengthen the enforcement mechanisms to bring all garment and sportswear workers under the legislative framework.

2.    A mechanism should be devised to establish the Corporate Social Accountability of the principal buyer/retailer at all levels of supply chain. The government was urged to check the purchasing practices of international brands and buyers that encourage suppliers to adopt exploitative employment practices.

3.    An All India Board for Garment Workers should be established to look into the issues like employment regulation and social security of workers.

4.   Government should lay down a procurement policy of garments, sportswear and sports goods considering fair labour standards.

An appeal letter containing these demands signed by garment workers throughout the country has been prepared to insist upon the government the urgent need to address the issues of garment and sportswear workers. It has been decided that the appeal letter will be submitted to the Union Labour Minister, Mr.Sis Ram Ola.