Oxfam Australia and FairWear will join human rights, labour rights and consumer groups in twelve countries across four continents who are calling on G-Star to develop a responsible exit strategy when they severe business ties from Fibres and Fabrics International Pty. Ltd. (FFI) and subsidiary Jeans Knit Pty. Ltd. (JKPL) factories in India.
Since 2005, G-Star supplier (FFI) and its (JKPL) have used the courts to suppress local civil society groups from reporting on labour conditions.
When the Clean Clothes Campaign and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN) decried the harassment of the Indian human and labour rights organisations, FFI filed suit against them, as well as internet service provider Antenna and CCC's adsl provider Xs4all. On December 1, 2007 an Indian court ordered the arrest of seven members of
the CCC and ICN.
“While this [severing ties with FFI/JKPL factory] is a positive step in the right direction,” said Tessel Pauli of the Clean Clothes Campaign, “G-Star must now make good on its promise of ethical treatment of workers by developing a responsible exit strategy that makes the employment of FFI/JKPL employees its top priority.”
Actions will take place in the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, UK, and USA.
FairWear and Oxfam Australia will work together to encourage the G-Star Head Office in Australia to demonstrate their concern for this issue and take all measures possible to ensure a responsible exit strategy from the FFI/JKPL factory.
Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria
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