The crisis is far from over for garment workers who are owed 11.85 billion USD in unpaid income and severance, whilst labour rights violations flourish, according to new research by Clean Clothes Campaign.
Although apparel brands and retailers have returned to profitability, many workers are facing severe hardship following a year in which employers have withheld or reduced wages as they faced sudden lockdowns and unethical purchasing practices such as non-payment of goods, sudden order cancellations, and unilateral price reductions. With alarming new peaks in COVID infection rates across different regions in the world, there is no indication that this is the final bill.