Almost half a million textile workers are now represented by democratically elected representatives

This means 450,000 textile workers at 227 factories are now represented by democratically elected representatives. It contributes to an improved workplace dialogue at the factories and a strengthened negotiation position for the textile workers. This is a foundation and a pre-requisite for positive and long-term change when it comes to improved working conditions and increased wages.

The worker representatives will be able to bridge the gap between the workers and the factory management. They will speak on behalf of the workers when discussions are held about for example working hours, working conditions, health and security issues. During the process, it became clear that a strengthening of the textile workers’ position is something that would not only benefit the workers but also the factory managements.

Besides from democratic elections of workers’ representatives, our Workplace Dialogue Program includes management training, awareness training films for all workers about for example rights and responsibilities, and in-depth trainings of elected worker representatives at the H&M Training Center. All these parts have now been completed at the first-tier factories we are sourcing from in Bangladesh.

“Initially, the management at some factories were hesitant about participating, but after receiving training and information, they changed their minds. They are now very positive and convinced it will make it easier to communicate with the workers”, says Cecilia Tiblad Berntsson, Social Sustainability Manager at H&M group.

In 2017, our Workplace Dialogue Program resulted in that…

…almost half a million textile workers are now represented by democratically elected representatives.

…227 factories have taken part in our Workplace Dialogue Program.

…around 2,900 workers representatives – 40% of them women – received training at the H&M Training Center in Dhaka on areas such as labour law, grievance handling, problem solving and women workers’ rights, and was funded by H&M. The participating workers received full pay from the suppliers when attending the training.

…workers and factory management have been trained in how to organise democratic elections. H&M supervised the worker representative elections together with representatives from the Ministry of Labour, and gave support during the time after the elections. This has all been possible thanks to our dedicated team in Dhaka working closely with our suppliers on a daily basis.

…our suppliers in Bangladesh already have reached one of the interim goals we set up within our fair living wage strategy; that textile workers are represented by democratically elected representatives by the end of 2018.

The work we do at suppliers connected to workplace dialogue contribute not only to a better working environment at individual factories, but also to enable industrial relations where trade unions play an important part for a well-functioning labour market.

We will continue to push for a systematic change within this area both on industry and country level through our global framework agreement with the international trade union association IndustriALL and the Swedish trade union IF Metall, as well as in collaboration with other companies within ACT.

 

* Factories where our products are stitched.