CHENNAI: A campaign by a dalit women-led trade union following the rape and murder of a member has been successful in making the global fashion brand H&M, along with
Eastman Exports
and
Natchi Apparels
, Dindigul, to ensure there is no gender-based violence against women workers in factories from where it sources its garments.
Thivya
Rakini
, state president of the
Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU), who has worked in spinning mills of Dindigul and its surrounding areas, said, “Most of the workers in the spinning mills and garment factories are dalits who endure the harassment for their families, and never speak out,” said Rakini. TTCU was formed in 2013. It now has 1,1000 members throughout Tamil Nadu.
Twenty-year-old Jeyasre had been a leading member of the union, and she had been working night shifts with Natchi Apparels, a wing of Eastman Exports in Dindigul, which supplied garments to global brand H&M. She was raped and murdered in January 2021 by her supervisor who confessed to the crime. Subsequently, the ‘Justice for Jeyasre’ campaign was launched to help her family members get compensation. However, this led to the campaigners facing threats and intimidation, following which they decided to seek a more long-lasting solution to one of the most common problems of garment factories — sexual harassment. “Sexual harassment us endemic to these mills,” says Nandita Shivakumar, the campaign coordinator.
Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) and Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF), joined the campaigners, which helped bring international attention to the issue. After many rounds of talks, they were able to reach a legal agreement with H&M, Eastman Exports and Natchi Apparel.
Last week, Eastman Exports Global Clothing, TTCU, Asia Floor Wage Alliance, and Global Labour Justice-International, Labour Rights Forum, along with H&M jointly announced, the groundbreaking Dindigul Agreement with an aim to reach out to 5,000 workers, predominantly women in the first year.
Implementation would begin in mid April, says Rakini. Former colleagues of Jeyasre say that they can already see the change in their workplace, after signing of the agreement. All spinning mills are introducing CCTV cameras. “There were times when we were scared to come back to work after
Covid
, because we knew the workload and harassment would be manifold, but now this past one week has given us confidence that we will have a safer workplace,” said a woman worker.
Stay updated with the latest news on Times of India. Don't miss daily games like Crossword, Sudoku, Location Guesser and Mini Crossword. Spread love this holiday season with these Christmas wishes, messages, and quotes.