Today is Human Rights Day, and tragic factory accidents in recent days serve as a sombre reminder that failure to uphold human rights in the garment industry can be fatal for workers.
Human rights mean a living wage, legal working hours and a safe working environment.
On Sunday morning, over 40 people died in a factory fire in Delhi, India. The fire brought to light numerous human rights violations that pushed up the total number of fatalities. Despite the fire starting in the early hours of Sunday morning when the factory was closed, many workers were asleep in the factory at the time. This raises questions as to whether workers could afford housing or transportation costs. It also indicates that workers may have been expected to work extremely long shifts, finishing late at night and starting early in the morning. Poverty pay and excessive overtime remain pervasive in the garment industry.
