Women's Views on News |
| Day of action in memory of factory disaster Posted: 23 Apr 2015 09:38 AM PDT
Please join the Global Day of Action for Rana Plaza on 24 April, to call for industry reforms, demanding that people are put above profit, and to safeguard workers' welfare and livelihoods. On 24 April 2013, the Rana Plaza building complex on the outskirts of Dhaka, in Bangladesh, housing five garment factories, came crashing down. At least 1,134 people lost their lives, and more than 2000 were injured. Many were killed instantly. Many more were buried alive under eight storeys of concrete and machinery, among the remains of the garments that they were producing for global corporations. Thousands were injured and severely traumatised. Some people were forced to amputate their own limbs in order to escape this concrete grave. We must always remember – never forget – the thousands of people whose lives were lost or forever changed – all for the price of a cheap T-shirt. Action remains urgently needed and necessary. Despite all the pledges of support for the survivors and victims' families, many multinational brands are still refusing to pay what they owe in compensation. This is unacceptable. Despite all the calls for urgent change to the garment industry, now two years on from the disaster, many of the initial promises have eroded, and change is slow in coming. This is unacceptable. UNI Global Union, IndustriALL Global Union and the Clean Clothes Campaign (which Labour Behind the Label is the UK part of) – the three organisations negotiating on behalf of the victims of the Rana Plaza disaster in 2013 – have been jointly ramping up demands on global brands linked to the disaster to fill an USD8.5million gap in the funding needed to deliver full and fair compensation to each of the over 5,000 individuals with eligible claims. So far USD21.5 million has been paid into the Rana Plaza Donors Trust Fund through contributions from buyers, the Bangladesh Prime Ministers Fund and other private donors. It is calculated that at least USD30 million is needed to cover compensation claims. All contributions are used exclusively to make payments to Rana Plaza victims and their families. To date claimants have only received a maximum of 70 per cent of what they are owed, with further payments delayed as a result of the failure of brands to pay the USD8.5 million needed to complete the scheme. A number of globally recognised brands, all with links to the Rana Plaza factories have so far refused to provide adequate payments into the Fund. According to campaigners Labour Behind the Label, among the worst offenders is Benetton. In 2013 Benetton's revenue was EUR 1.6 billion. On 24 February 2015 Benetton publically committed to paying compensation before 24 April 2015 but is yet to honour that commitment. The Italian brand says it has appointed an "independent third party" to advise the company on its payment, but has refused to state publically who that third party is. Others, including Walmart, Mango and The Children’s Place are being singled out for making donations that fall far short of expectations. The Children’s Place, a US clothing firm, initially gave an estimated £450,000 through the charity BRAC US. Campaigners are demanding USD8 million from the company which had a revenue of USD1.8 billion in 2013. The Children's Place is the subject of a major campaign in the USA and received critical press recently when the company had a Rana Plaza survivor arrested during a protest at its headquarters. Walmart, the world's largest and richest retailer, with its 2014 revenue said to be USD485.651 billion, has paid an estimated USD1 million into the fund through the charity BRAC US – a small contribution given Walmart's size and the total amount required. It has suggested it is ready to make further contributions but is yet to follow through with any payment. The Spanish clothing company Mango made a very small donation last year. Its 2013 revenue was said to be EUR1.85 billion. Other companies still to pay the required amount include Lee Cooper, JC Penny, Matalan and Kik. IndustriALL Global Union's General Secretary Jyrki Raina said, "For an industry that is all about image, the garment brands are taking shockingly long to do the right thing and close one of the most shameful chapters in the history book of the global clothing industry. “It has been almost two years since this industrial homicide; the victims and their families are owed compensation and the possibility to build a new future." Join the Global Day of Action on 24 April 2015. Unite with people worldwide to demand justice for the victims of Rana Plaza, to hold brands and retailers accountable and to ensure that vital and lasting changes are made in the global apparel industry. Commit to taking action on, or in advance of, 24 April 2015, by signing up to this Facebook event. Join The Rainbow Collective and Openvizor on 24 April at 6:30pm, at Unite Community, St George’s Town Hall. 236 Cable Street E1 0BL, for the premiere and reception of the new documentary “UDITA” [ARISE] on the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse. ‘UDITA’ follows 5 years in the lives of the women at the grass roots of the garment workers struggle: from 2010, when organising in the workplace would lead to beatings, sacking and arrests; through the tragedies of Tazreen and Rana Plaza, and to the present day, when the long fight begins to pay dividends. We see this vital period through the eyes of the unions’ female members, workers and leaders. To see the trailer, click here. If you only have a few minutes, post a solidarity message on Facebook or a Twitter such as: ‘No one should die for the price of cheap T-shirt. Remember #RanaPlaza.’ or ‘Cheap Ts cost lives. Remember #RanaPlaza. #Solidarity’. Set a reminder on your phone to hold a minute of silence on 24 April at 11.34 to remember the 1134 people who died two years ago. Download the action menu for a full list of things to do to mark the anniversary. Campaigners want industry reforms – people must not be put above profit – and to safeguard workers' welfare and livelihoods. Their immediate demands are that Rana Plaza survivors and victims' families receive the full compensation they are entitled to and that all apparel brands and retailers doing business in Bangladesh sign the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety. Their long-term demands? Transparency and due diligence. Accountability and access to justice. Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. There must never be another Rana Plaza. The only way to ensure this is to thread these principles through the foundations of the industry. Together we will continue to remember the victims who died for the price of the cheap clothes we wear. Together we must secure justice for their families through full compensation. Together we can reform the industry so that all garment workers are afforded a safe and dignified life.  |
| Posted: 23 Apr 2015 09:01 AM PDT
In an effort to reach out to working mothers, childcare has been brought to the forefront of the 2015 election – with the three main parties promising increased free provision for three to four-year-olds. The Conservatives have pledged 30 free hours, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats in close pursuit. With many women taking lower paid part-time jobs while their children are young, and families struggling with the high cost of childcare nationwide, are these measures a good thing? Under the current system all three and four-year-olds in England are entitled to free childcare for 570 hours per year. This usually equates to fifteen hours per week, for 38 weeks. In recent years this has also been extended to include the most deprived two year-olds. In Scotland the provision is for 600 hours per year and in Wales three and four year-olds are eligible for ten hours per week, for 52 weeks. In most cases, until the age of three, all childcare costs must be borne by the child's family. The problem is the current system isn't actually working. The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) has warned that increasing free childcare without adequate investment could seriously damage the nursery sector. The NDNA reports that 85 per cent of nurseries are making a loss as a result of the scheme. What this means in real terms is that the government cannot afford to pay nurseries the true cost of the current 'free' childcare for 3-4 year-olds. The scheme is essentially being propped up by parents of younger children attending the same nursery, and the nurseries themselves. If the scheme doubles, where will the additional money required come from? Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of NDNA, said: "While we welcome this commitment to provide more support to families with the cost of childcare, we warn that doubling the number of hours will just double the problem, resulting in significant cost increases for parents of children under three and also nursery closures. "With the current 15 free hours, there is already a chronic underfunding issue, so any extension of this provision must be thoroughly costed and properly funded so that it can be delivered sustainably and without a reduction in quality." This costing funding issue was raised earlier this year by the House of Lords Committee on Affordable Childcare. In the report they released in February, the Committee made it clear they did not think an extension of the free early education entitlement to 25 hours per week would be sustainable. It is not only the case that nurseries are being underfunded and subsidised by fee-paying parents of younger children, there are also issues of quality. The House of Lords report highlighted that the inadequate quality of many childcare providers could in fact be detrimental to the development of the children in their care; 28 per cent of two year-olds attend nurseries not rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’. The report said "Since the quality of provision is critical in delivering improved child outcomes, this does not appear to be a good investment for the 40 per cent most disadvantaged children." With this focus on childcare for working families, all parties are acknowledging that raising your children while you are working has become the norm not the exception. This is good news for women. In 2015, 68 per cent of mothers with dependant children work. Clearly, childcare provision is an important issue and it is right that the political parties are finally giving it the attention it deserves. But it is not just about cost. Quality is just as important, as is flexibility. Many women choose to return to work only part-time because they wish to spend more time with their children. The House of Lords Report did acknowledge that cost of childcare is not the only factor which determines whether or not a mother returns to work, saying ‘The availability of high quality part-time and flexible employment opportunities can be as important in enabling parents to work, and to progress in their careers, as the cost of childcare.’ With these proposals the parties have failed to recognise that what many working mothers seek is a greater life balance – to work and to also spend time with their children. Their current proposals are designed on the basis that all women want to put their children into childcare and return to work full time. In reality, what many women want is the opportunity for flexible working. In roles that do not require a full-time presence in an office and yet where their skills and experience are duly recognised. But too often part-time equals low pay and low skilled. Given the major concerns outlined by industry leaders and the House of Lords Report, it is clear that extending the provision without serious investment will not be workable. The introduction of 30 hours universal 'free' childcare for three and four-year olds should not be to the detriment of fee-paying parents of younger children. Further information must be provided about exactly how any future government will pay for these suggested improvements to childcare provision. Women want to work, but women also want quality, affordable childcare options. Sadly it seems that even though childcare has been given 'high priority' status, it is not been given the consideration it deserves. As Neil Leitch, of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, said: "It is important to remember that childcare is about more than enabling parents to return to work. "The first five years of a child's life are crucial to their long-term development – as such, it is vital that whoever is in government after May 7 is willing and able to provide the investment that providers need to be able to deliver affordable, sustainable and, crucially, high-quality early education and care." Let's hope whoever wins on 7 May listens to him.  |
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