Indian garment companies try to silence Clean Clothes Campaign
01 02 2007
Since August 2006 the CCC together with the India Committee of the Netherlands, publicly urge the Indian garment companies Fibres and Fabrics International Pvt Ltd and Jeans Knit Pvt Ltd (FFI/JKPL) and companies currently sourcing from FFI/JKPL, including Ann Taylor, Armani, G-Star, Gap, Guess, Mexx and Rare, to address workers' rights violations at the FFI/JKPL facilities. Among these violations is the lack of channels for workers to voice their problems at FFI/JKPL without fear of reprisals. Major obstacle to improve working conditions at FFI/JKPL on the long term is the court order silencing local labour organisations that was issued in July 2006 on the basis of a libel complaint filed by FFI/JKPL.
In their letter Pramila Advocates accuse the CCC, the India Committee of the Netherlands and two Dutch internet providers to have "indulged in a systematic, planned conspiracy to malign and cause harm and damage to the business, image and reputation of our clients (i.e. FFI/JKPL) by deliberately publishing false information (…)". Pramila threatens to proceed against the CCC for "offences including cyber crime" should the CCC not remove all articles referring to the denial of workers' rights at FFI/JKPL and should the CCC not cease to urge the companies buying from FFI/JKPL to demand the withdrawal of the FFI/JKPL complaint against the local stakeholder organisations.
Even though the letter is framed as a legal notice, our legal advisors call the letter lacking any juridical basis and defamatory in itself. The CCC believes this letter exemplary for the current attitude of FFI/JKPL when faced with criticism about the lack of workers' rights at FFI/JKPL, and regrets that FFI/JKPL is again not willing to enter a local dialogue. In reaction to this letter the CCC has again called upon FFI/JKPL to accept a mediated dialogue and to start a remediation process with the Bangalore unions and labour organisations involved.
To read more about the case and how it concluded click here
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