When you buy fast fashion, someone, somewhere, is paying the real price because they live in job insecurity. Often, the fashion industry does not care about how people are treated and forgets about the fair and ethical treatment of its workers. So it is not possible to take into account the sustainability it promises.
Any garment (and not just fashion) should reflect the effort of the hands that created it. Labour justice is also climate justice that affects us all.
Big brands demand fast, low-cost production, which puts more pressure on workers. Production is outsourced to countries with little labour regulation, and many brands do not publish transparent information about their factories or suppliers.
Labour injustice and working conditions in the fashion industry:
1. Very low wages
- Many workers receive wages well below a living wage.
- For example, in countries such as Bangladesh, India, Vietnam and Cambodia, workers can earn less than €100 per month.
- Wages do not cover basic needs such as food, housing or education.
2. Excessive working hours
- Working days of 10 to 16 hours, often 6 or 7 days a week.
- Constant pressure to meet tight production deadlines.
- With few breaks and no adequate rest periods.
3. Unsafe working conditions
- Lack of safety measures, ventilation or emergency exits.
- A tragic example is the collapse of the Rana Plaza (Bangladesh, 2013), where more than 1,100 workers died.
- Many handle toxic chemicals without adequate protection.
4. Lack of labour rights
- In many factories, unionisation is not allowed.
- Workers can be fired for protesting or asking for improvements.
- Big brands subcontract production to workshops, without taking direct responsibility for working conditions.
5. Exploitation of women and minors
- Most textile workers are young women, often exposed to exploitation and risk of abuse.
- There are still cases of child labour, especially in the early stages of the chain (such as cotton farming or spinning).
Initiatives to combat this injustice:
- Campaigns such as Fashion Revolution promote transparency and corporate social responsibility.
- Organisations such as Clean Clothes Campaign and Labour Behind the Label defend the rights of workers in the textile sector.
- There is a growing movement towards responsible consumption: sustainable fashion, second-hand clothing, support for ethical and local brands.
Documentaries:
- The True Cost (2015)
- Sweatshop: Deadly Fashion (Norwegian series)
Books:
- To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? – Lucy Siegle
- Fashionopolis – Dana Thomas
- La moda justa (Fair Fashion) – Marta D. Riezu