Soul Economy

Soul Economy spoke to Melissa from the FairWear recently to find out a little more about FairWear. This great organisation was established to ensure that clothing workers are not exploited and that they are at least receiving the conditions and rates of pay set out in the Industry Award. So make sure you look out for the No Sweat Shop label, buy FairWear and support ethical shopping and sustainable fashion.

1. Tell us a little about FairWear Campaign. How long have you been in operation? Why was it established?
The FairWear Campaign was established in 1996, it is made up of a coalition of Community groups, Church groups and Unions.  It was established to address the gross exploitation of workers who make clothes in their homes in Australia.  All groups involved in FairWear had experience with clothing outworkers prior to the campaigns inception, which was prompted by the 1996 senate inquiry into outwork in the Clothing Industry which revealed a serious problem in Australia.

The campaign works with and on the behalf of clothing outworkers through education, training and lobbying and has expanded focus to include clothing workers overseas.

2. What are the aims and objectives of the FairWear Campaign?
The FairWear Campaign aims to end the exploitation of clothing workers, both those that work in private homes (outworkers) and those working in factories in Australia and overseas, to allow these workers to experience and live a full and sustainable life and to receive the right that we all have to fair working conditions and a life free of exploitation.

3. How do consumers know if they are buying FairWear clothing?
We would classify “FairWear” clothing as clothing that has been made in Australia by manufacturers accredited to part 2 of the Homeworkers Code of Practice.  This means that all links in the chain of production are transparent and monitored to ensure that all people making the clothes are at least receiving the rates of pay and conditions set out in the Industry Award. A list of these accredited companies is available at www.nosweatshoplabel.com.au

4. Where can consumers purchase FairWear garments?
A list of the companies accredited to the Homeworkers Code of Practice can be found at www.nosweatshoplabel.com.au

5. What are the consequences if people choose not to purchase clothing accredited to the Homeworkers Code of Practice?
If people choose not to purchase clothing made under the conditions set out in the Homeworkers Code of Practice there is no guarantee that that clothing has been made under legal and fair rates of pay and conditions. The FairWear Campaign in Sydney is in close contact with clothing outworkers through Asian Women at Work and these women are commonly receiving $3-8 per hour to make clothes, they do not receive sick or holiday pay or superannuation despite their legal entitlements.

The opinion and choice of the consumer, especially a group of consumers is very important and valuable to companies.  If the demand for clothing made under fair conditions is there, companies tend to respond accordingly.

6. Do you have any good news stories to report on ways in which the FairWear Campaign has helped workers in the garment industry?
Lobbying carried out by FairWear and other involved organisations in 2006 around the introduction of WorkChoices and the Independent Contractors Legislation ensured that clothing outworkers remained an allowable matter in the Textile Clothing and Footwear Industry Award by being excluded from the category of independent contractors.  The result of this success is the maintenance and existence of minimum rates of pay and conditions for clothing outworkers.

The campaign has also been getting clothing outworkers involved in speaking out at various speaking appointments with the campaign worker, through these experiences the feedback from other women in the network and the women speaking is that they feel more confident from speaking and hearing other women speak.

7. How do you go about promoting FairWear?
We generate educational materials on the issue in Australia and overseas for clothing workers, carry out public talks and hold an awareness building and fundraising dinner.

8. What can consumers do to help support the Campaign?
Consumers can choose to buy clothes from companies accredited to the Homeworkers Code of Practice.  If they notice their favourite companies are manufacturing in Australia but are not accredited, they can write to them (always better to do in a group) and ask them to become accredited to the Homeworkers Code of Practice.

They can also sign up to our email list by emailing fairwear@awatw.org.au and respond to action alerts to support specific campaign activities and activities of the outworker advocates, a group of clothing outworkers who lobby and campaign for themselves and with FairWear.

Supporting the Outworker Advocates:
The outworker advocates’ activities actually promote accreditation of companies who are employing outworkers now and are paying well below the minimum rate of pay and are not providing any of the benefits laid out in the award.  Their activities are really set at the heart of the issue and are a way of stimulating direct change.

9. Where can consumers and the community go to find out more about FairWear?
To our website www.fairwear.org.au and subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletters and action alerts. To sign up to this list they can email fairwear@awatw.org.au.

Now we here at Soul Economy like to get to know our soulful entrepreneurs a little better, so on a more personal note we have 5 quick questions:

1. What is your favourite piece of clothing?
A dress made from organic cotton and bamboo designed and made locally and dyed with natural vegetable dyes.

2. Where is your favourite travel destination?
I love Barcelona and the Royal National.

3. What do you do to relax?
Run at the beach, Hike, Dance salsa, Laugh, Travel and explore new places, Read.

4. Do you have a favourite book and why?
For personal reading, Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is a favourite.  I am bias because it is set in Barcelona, the story is intriguing and the style of writing draws you in and gets you truly involved in the characters and their journey.

5. Do you have someone you look up to or admire?
I admire the people who work in the community sector and dedicate so much of themselves for the benefit of the community and our society.  I also admire the women I work with, I always think of the experiences many of them had just coming to Australia going through refugee camps, losing family members and at times their own identity, let alone what they face in Australia, but they maintain a positive disposition, concern for others and at times are the ones making me laugh and keeping my spirits up.  That is something that I admire.

Tags: ethical fashion, ethical shopping, FairWear, Fairwear Campaign, No Sweat Shop Label