New report by Clean Clothes Campaign member Labour Behind the Label recently published a report documenting the failure of major brands to deliver on their promises to provide living wages for the workers who produce their clothes.

The report finds that, while 85% of brands surveyed had a commitment to ensuring wages were enough to support workers’ basic needs, not a single brand has translated their living wage commitment into action for any worker in countries where the vast majority of clothing is produced.

Anna Bryher, the report’s author, said:

“Five years on from our previous survey on this topic, no brand was able to show any progress towards a living wage being paid. Poverty in the garment industry isn’t improving, it’s getting worse. This situation is urgent. Our message to the brands is that human rights can’t wait and workers making the clothes sold in our shops must be paid enough to live with dignity.”

“Voluntary initiatives have failed to deliver human rights for workers,” said Neva Nahtigal from Clean Clothes Campaign International office. “The global economic model that drives down prices and pits low wage country against low wage country is too strong. It’s a fact that the workers who make almost all the clothes we buy live in poverty, whilst huge brands get rich from their labour. It is time for brands to be held accountable for the system of exploitation that they created and profit from.”

Bryher added,

“Global brands and retailers have known for years that the wages they pay are not enough for workers to live on, yet they continue to make empty promises while raking in massive profits. If brands are genuinely committed to paying a living wage, they should stop talking about it and just pay it. Pick a credible benchmark, tell suppliers, and raise prices accordingly. Start now, with the 50 biggest suppliers, and make the payroll records public to prove it is really happening. It’s not that complicated. Just pay people more money.”