FASHION INDUSTRY

Fashion Industry

Description of work

CHILDREN'S WORKING CONDITIONS

HOW

WHO

WHY

ACTIONS TO LIMIT OUR IMPACT

investing in repairable garments

promote and support the circular economy

SUPPORTING TRANSPARENCY initiatives and partecipating in pressure campaigns

Choose sustainable and natural materials

support policies and laws that protect workers

education and support for local communities

cultural change

graphs

Supply Chain Risks

Global Wages

Child Labour Trend

Child Labour by Region

EtHical alterNatives

Local and sustainable production

Transparency, technology And Traceability

Sitografia/bibliografia

slide 2

• https://www.ilo.org
• https://www.unicef.org
• https://www.humanium.org/en/the-detrimental-effects-of-fast-fashion-on-childrens-rights/
• https://www.fairtrade.net/it-it.html

slide 3

• https://www.projectcece.com/blog/559/child-labour-in-the-fashion-industry/
• https://fashionlawjournal.com/child-labour-and-the-fashion-industry/
• https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/working-conditions
• https://www.worldvision.org/child-protection-news-stories/child-labor-facts

slide 4

• https://www.statista.com/chart/17903/monthly-minimum-wage-in-the-global-garment-industry/
• https://www.ilo.org/resource/other/2024-global-estimates-child-labour-figures
• https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/sustainability/the-fashion-supply-chain-is-still-high-risk-for-child-labour/
• https://www.17goalsmagazin.de/en/child-labour-unicef-action/

slide 6

• https://www.unicef.it/
• https://www.fairtrade.net/it-it.html
• https://tracextech.com/fashion-supply-chain/
• https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/index_en
• https://unric.org/it/obiettivo-8-incentivare-una-crescita-economica-duratura-inclusiva-e-sostenibile-unoccupazione-piena-e-produttiva-ed-un-lavoro-dignitoso-per-tutti/

slide 5

• https://www.fairtrade.net/it-it/news/lavoro-minorile-scopri-cause-fenomeno-e-cosa-possiamo-fare-insieme-per-contrastarlo.html
• https://www.fairtrade.net/it-it/news/lavoro-minorile-scopri-cause-fenomeno-e-cosa-possiamo-fare-insieme-per-contrastarlo.html
• https://www.ilo.org/it/resource/news/eliminare-il-lavoro-minorile-e-realizzare-la-giustizia-sociale-tutti

Geographical differences

Child labour in fashion is most common in developing countries, espacially where clothes for big international brands are produced.

Main Regions:

• South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
• Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt

• Latin America

In contrast, Europe and North America have stronger laws and inspections, but still import clothes made by exploited children abroad.

Fair Trade Fashion

• One of the most important alternatives is fair trade fashion
• Fair salaries, safe working conditions and no child labour
• Responsible brands: People Tree and Patagonia

• Technology can also help to protect children.
• Some ethical brands use digital certifications (QR codes, factory checks and denunciation mechanisms) to trace every step of production. This transparency makes it possible to see exactly where and by whom clothes are made.

to extend the life of garments and reduce the production of new ones

Agenda 2030 - Goal 8.7

• Ethical fashion is connected to Goal 8.7 of the 2030 Agenda, which promotes decent work for all workers and sustainable economic growth
• Guarantee safe workshops and the respect of human rights
• The economic growth must never depend on exploitation

Child Labour in Fashion

Found mainly in early stages of production: cotton fields, spinning mills, small workshopsChildren are employed because they are cheap and easy to exploit

• Work long hours in unsafe conditions, often without education or protection
• Common tasks: sewing, cutting, dyeing, packing clothes
• Fast fashion increases pressure for quick, low-cost production, leading to hidden child labour in supply chains

• paid less, at higher risk of harassment or abuse
• common in sewing, embroidery and dyeing

Face double discrimination: as children and as females

Work in heavier or dangerous jobs, such as cotton picking or carrying materials

• often employed outdoors or in physically demanding tasks

VS

How are the working conditions

• Extremely low wages, definitely lower than the minimum legal salary, which in most cases represents much less than the kliving wage
• Inhumane working hours, from 14 to 16 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Unhealthy and dangerous conditions, the workers inhale toxic substances and and forced to work in unsafe buildings.
• Accidents, fires, injuries and diseases are very frequent
• Most of the children face verbal and physical abuse.

The Interntional Labour Organization (ILO) has defind the worst forms of child labour, which include:

• slavery or similar practices
• child trafficking
• debt bondage
• hazardous work that can cause injury or moral corruption

Why are kids exploited

Children are the perfect preys for slave labour:

• easy to lure in with fake promises
• considered more obedient
• perfect for all low-skilled tasks of the supply chain
• provide for the family in poverty situations
• child labour is hard to trace
• allow to cut down on production costs as the demand for fast fashion increases
• weak law and enforcement

Which are the companies that were found relying on child labour

• H&M - pays 17 cents an hour
• Shein - relies heavily on subontractors in its supply chain
• Zara - found cases of underage workers in its factories

• Nike - relies on sweatshops
• Adidas - manufactures products in areas with lax labour enforcements
• Gap - found childrens involved in the harvesting of cotton
• Levi's - made children work long hours in unsafe conditions

• Another ethical alternative is local production

• Local designers and artisans often use traditional techniques and sustainable materials

• This type of production supports local communities and invest in education for workers' children

FASHION REVOLUTION