Terms of Reference (ToR):
Research on “The implementation status of the new minimum wage structure and its impact on RMG workers”
Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change (STITCH)
Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change (STITCH) is a partnership that aims to work collectively towards a global textile and garment industry that contributes to an equal and just society by respecting human rights in the world of work. STITCH is active in garment-producing countries across Asia, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, and has developed a regional approach for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
In Bangladesh the partnership consists of 3 organisations: the Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear Foundation and Mondiaal FNV. STITCH consortium members share the goal of an industry in Bangladesh where garment workers, of which 55% are women, can exercise their right to freedom of association, and access safe, dignified and properly paid work. STITCH envisages workplaces where workers feel free to speak out, unionise, and bargain collectively for better working conditions and the partnership aims to amplify workers’ voices, help achieve trade union and civil society objectives and drive change by convening and aligning supply chain stakeholders.
STITCH collectively stands up for better working conditions and adherence to labour rights by:
- Capacitating suppliers to improve their social dialogue with workers and governments and sourcing dialogue with brands.
- Working with local unions and labour rights organisations on collective bargaining to influence higher wages, gender issues and decent work.
- Engaging with brands towards more responsible business, leveraging the crucial role they play in making the industry both more ethical and sustainable.
- Advocating for a legislative framework that creates higher levels of accountability on better working conditions and remuneration for companies sourcing in the production countries.
- Lobbying, campaigning and convening to influence the regulatory framework being developed at EU and national levels as part of human rights due diligence by companies.
Interested organisations (Think tanks, Universities, research organizations) should submit technical proposal and financial proposal by July 13, 2024.