Workers in Indonesia and in other countries producing sportswear are frequently prevented from organising at sportswear supplier factories and from carrying out union activities. Recent research covering 18 factories in Indonesia found that all had taken anti-union measures.
“This protocol is important because our law does not cover technical implementation of freedom of association. It also ensures brands take responsibility to ensure respect for union rights,” states Lilis Mahmudah, head of program for SPN. “Our members have been waiting for this agreement to be concluded. It will help us in our bargaining efforts,” adds Emelia Yanti, general secretary of GSBI.
SPN and GSBI are two of the Indonesian trade unions who negotiated and signed the protocol. The other unions involved were Garteks, KASBI and F.PTSPK.
Today’s agreement has been made possible by the Play Fair campaign, which since 2004 has been campaigning for global sportswear brands to take concrete steps to improve conditions in their supply chains. The campaign was represented at the signing by Oxfam Australia, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation and the Clean Clothes Campaign.
“The signing of this freedom of association protocol is an important first step in improving the situation for the hundreds of thousands of sportswear workers facing low wages and poor conditions,” says Jeroen Merk of the CCC. “The real test, however, will be in its implementation,” adds Ashling Seely of the ITGLWF.
In the run up to the London 2012 Olympics, the Play Fair Campaign will be encouraging other sportswear and garment brands to sign up to the protocol.