The workers, who have organized against gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) on the factory floor in Indonesia, just announced they negotiated a groundbreaking agreement to implement a union-led gender justice program at two garment factories in Central Java, Indonesia, where 6,250 workers produce U.S. university logo apparel and other branded sportswear for U.S. corporation Fanatics, Inc., including Nike licensed goods.
As Egye Gumilang, one of the Plant Level leaders, from AFWA partner union PSP SPN PT Batang Apparel says in the article, “This agreement is not just about two factories in Central Java. It sets a precedent for the garment industry in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and globally that workers can and must have the right to a safe and dignified workplace.”
The workers who won the agreement have been organizing with their unions at two factories: SPN, SPSI, and KASBI at PT Batang Apparel Indonesia, and SPSI at PT Semarang Garment Indonesia. Global Labor Justice (GLJ) is proud to be one of the global labor partners, along with Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), and Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) that supported the negotiations and are signatories to the Central Java Agreement for Gender Justice.
This Agreement was created in response to a pattern of gender-based violence and harassment that was documented by the WRC in response to complaints from women workers.
This binding agreement between the unions, global labor organizations AFWA, GLJ, WRC, and the factory, with an enforcement commitment from Fanatics, creates a union-led program for a workplace free of violence and harassment against women.
The Agreement is already being implemented and shows how the collective power of workers through their unions can bring about a sustainable pathway to end the abusive conditions in the factories with support from international labor organizations and brands.
Enforceable supply chain agreements are one of the most effective ways to fight GVBH, expand fundamental labor rights, and hold the biggest global brands responsible for raising standards in global supply chains. We continue to fight to hold more brands to account and bring them to the table to sign enforceable agreements with their suppliers and the unions representing supply chain workers.
