Labour issues in the fashion industry: an overview

The fashion industry employs a very high percentage of the world’s total workforce. The majority of this workforce is employed in Asia. International competition is driving fashion companies to look for ways to reduce labour costs. To ensure that the drive to reduce costs does not come at the expense of working conditions, international organisations have developed international labour standards that require the conditions for safe and decent work to be met. These standards are codified in international instruments such as conventions and recommendations, but are also promoted through voluntary adherence by companies to codes of ethics, under the concept of corporate social responsibility.