Six giants of European fashion have stepped in to mobilize support and get financial assistance for tens of thousands of Myanmar employees who have lost their jobs due to the economic effects of the global Coronavirus pandemic. Those include the Swedish H&M (Hennes & Mauritz) Company, the Spanish Inditex known for their brand Zara, the Next from Britain, the Belgian-German-Dutch C&A, the Bestseller from Denmark and the Tachibo from Japan.
These brands have urged the stakeholders of Myanmar’s garment and footwear industry to make rapid and coordinated joint approach and action to help their workers. They have signed an agreement with suppliers and trade unions to protect the garment industry and workers in Myanmar from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This agreement with the Industrial Workers Federation of Myanmar (IWFM) and the IndustriALL Global Union aims to keep the doors of the industry open to the world and its workers protected during and after the pandemic.
The apparel brands have shared, among other things, their commitment to secure financial assistance for employees and to ensure that their working environment complies with health and safety regulations to protect workers from novel Coronavirus transmission. The clothing companies also expressed support for workers ‘ rights to participate in union activities and to settle issues through tripartite dialogue.
