The National Secretary of the CFMEU Manufacturing Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Division, Jenny Kruschel has welcomed a commitment from the Albanese Labor Opposition to provide $2 million in funding per year to the clothing industry accreditation body, Ethical Clothing Australia.
The commitment would see the restoration of funding for Ethical Clothing Australia that was slashed by the Liberals in 2014.
The textile, clothing and footwear industries are renowned globally for exploitative practices. In Australia, workers in the industry are commonly migrant women who face many barriers to understanding their rights at work.
“Our members will welcome this commitment from Labor, which will finally see the reinstatement of funding to ensure ethical standards across more of the industry in Australia,” Jenny Kruschel said.
“The union has long called for the reinstatement of funding for this national code which ensures that workers in the textile clothing and footwear industries are paid properly and have safe workplaces.
“When businesses sign up to the Ethical Clothing Australia code, they are committing to legal wages and opening up their supply chains to audits. It’s good for their business, and protects vulnerable workers.
“But with thousands of companies in the supply chains, the funding is needed to cover more of the industry.
“This policy from Labor will help protect more workers and ensure a more sustainable industry in Australia. We call on the Government to match the funding commitment.”
A submission to restore the funding of Ethical Clothing Australia was made in the last Federal Budget, calling for $6.75 million over three years to achieve wider industry coverage for workers in accredited supply chains.
