Sweat Shop Clothes: Your Choice
Fairwear is campaigning to get retailers to use the ‘No Sweat Shop’ label on clothing. The label will allow shoppers to choose garments that have been made in accordance with the Homeworkers Code of Practice. They are asking people to postcards and letters to retailers. The campaign has seen Coles Myer (Grace Bros, Target, K Mart) send letters of encouragement to its manufacturers, supporting the No Sweat Shop label.
Fairwear is now targeting the remaining 3 major retailers. Send postcards to:
The Chief General Manager
Big W Discount Stores
City View Rd
Pennant Hills NSW 2120.
Mr Peter Wilkinson
David Jones P/L
GPO Box 503
Sydney NSW 2001
Ms Amanda Brook
General Manager, Sussan
20-40 Rosslyn St
West Melbourne Vic 3003
Get your postcards (they are bright, funky orange) from Fairwear ph (02) 9380 9091 or email fairwear@awatw.org.au.
Choice magazine online has a major report on Fairwear and its campaign for outworkers. It has information on the No Sweat Shop label, the background to the campaign, the Homeworker Code of practice and an article on whether consumers should pay more for clothes. The article contains some interesting facts such as of the $200 cost of a dress from a department store, only $9 goes to the outworker while retailers make a profit of 30% after costs. So the retailer nets around $70 while the outworker gets $9 gross.
Click here to learn more.