Fair work and supply chains in the UK garment industry

Two workshops will explore how to support workers as well as manufacturers in the UK. Starting with brief inputs of previously unpublished data on garment manufacturers’ business and supply chain practices; the effectiveness of social auditing and labour market enforcement; the working and living conditions of garment workers. Each workshop will start with very brief research inputs (15 mins), inputs from key industry stakeholders (15 mins) and a discussion that is open to all (60 mins).

10:00-12:00: Living and working in Leicester’s garment industry: What are the needs of garment workers? How can they be supported best? (initial inputs by IWIW, Highfields)

13:00-15:00: Enforcing standards in the garment industry: What does the industry need? How can a stable manufacturing environment be achieved? (initial inputs on Manufacturing survey, Fast Forward and enforcement)

The event will also showcase a photo exhibition on garment workers in the UK.

While the garment industry’s problems had considerable media exposure over the last years, what has remained somewhat under the radar is that the industry also served as a platform for experimentation towards positive solutions. This event explores recent initiatives and the conditions under which garment manufacturing can have a future in the UK. Findings of current research projects and recent forward-looking initiatives, both involving manufacturers, auditing and enforcement actors, as well as workers, will be shared. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss those developments with industry stakeholders and start a process of formulating a policy framework.

The event will be lead by:

Nik Hammer, Professor of Work and Employment, University of Leicester; Hilary Marsh, Garment Policy Advisor, Transform Trade; Sabina Lawreniuk, Principal Research Fellow in Human Geography, University of Nottingham; Ellias Mussa, Social Welfare Advocacy Worker, Highfields Centre, Leicester; Fatimah Zaahra Li, Deputy Head, Highfields Centre, Leicester

Stakeholders in the garment industry (industry representatives, trade unions, community representatives; policy makers; manufacturers; workers).  

The event will be of particular interest to the above group