Cheap is not always cheerful in the trade debate

In the wake of the tragic Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh the Australian Greens have today successfully moved that the Senate call on Australian companies to ensure the safety and fair treatment of workers in developing countries.

“The Greens have always called for ‘fair trade’ not ‘free trade’ and this horrific example in Bangladesh shows why it is not a throwaway line, it is a very real and important debate for our country to be having,” said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, national spokesperson on trade.

“It is not fair trade to have thousands of workers in a single, dangerous building, often operating under appalling conditions, creating cheap, ‘throw-away’ products.

“We need to recognise the risk that our fashion and retail industries are directly tied to these terrible tragedies and inequities.

“The Greens will seek to help develop and support supply chain certification for clothing products sourced from developing countries and will continue to highlight the importance of social, environmental and ethical issues in trade.

“The fashion industry can take a leadership role to help fix this problem and this will help drive consumer awareness on the issue and how consumers can help avoid being part of the problem.

“The Greens had a big win late last year when the Australian Government agreed to analyse and state upfront all costs involved in future trade agreements, so we can and should consider ethical and social considerations in our decision making on trade,” he concluded.

From a domestic perspective organisations like Ethical Clothing Australia provide ethical brands and clothing manufacturers with a way to help ensure legal obligations and standards are met throughout the Australian supply chain and the Australian Greens would like to see similar international coverage.(1)

(1) http://www.ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au/

Senate Motion 1250 – May 16th, 2013

Senator Whish-Wilson : To move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:
(i) the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh that killed 1 127 garment workers, many of whom were sewing clothes for international brands in unsafe conditions,

(ii) the significant protests and riots by garment workers in Bangladesh in response to the building collapse, and

(iii) that in response, some international clothing brands have signalled their intention to sign an accord committing to improve fire and building standards for their workers in Bangladesh; and

(b) calls on:
(i) Australian companies to ensure the safety of their workers in developing countries through improving standards and conditions and providing for independent inspections of factories,

(ii) Australian clothing companies to join the accord committing to improve fire and building standards for workers in Bangladesh, and

(iii) the Australian clothing industry to consider moves towards supply chain accreditation for products from developing countries.
Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, national spokesperson on Trade