November '25 | About the EU due diligence changes, labour rights victories, and Bangladesh’s convicted former Prime Minister
In our ongoing commitment to providing insight into the evolving landscape of labor and environmental rights within the textile and garment industry, we share with you the latest developments. This edition highlights the European Parliament’s vote to simplify sustainability reporting and due diligence, the conviction of former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, for crimes against humanity as well as the ratification by Bangladesh of key ILO conventions on safety and gender equality.
We hope you find these insights useful!
Your project team
STUDIES & REPORTS
Dindigul Agreement Shows Real Results Against Gender Violence (pdf)
Cornell’s Global Labour Institute finds the Dindigul Agreement has successfully empowered women workers to tackle gender-based violence in South India’s garment sector, through a strong, women-led union and close labour-management collaboration. The agreement also tackles deeper issues like caste, migration, and unsafe transport: areas often ignored in global supply chains. However, the report also shows that there appear to be some challenges to sustain brand involvement.
Policy Briefing Lieferketten (pdf)
A new FEMNET policy briefing (Nov 2025) warns that Germany’s Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) is being weakened in the name of “bureaucracy reduction,” risking a rollback of human rights protections. The Federal Office (BAFA) has reportedly been told to scale back audits and fines, undermining law enforcement. Meanwhile, The European Parliament has significantly reduced enforcement of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), excluding many firms from accountability. Weakening the law disproportionately harms women in global supply chains, who are already most vulnerable.
Unpicking the German Supply Chain Act (pdf)
FEMNET/ECCHR report titled “Unpicking the German Supply Chain Act” exposes major gaps in how German fashion companies enforce labour rights in Pakistan. After surveying 350 garment workers in Karachi, the study reveals widespread violations, including missing contracts, withheld wages, and unsafe working conditions. Complaints submitted under Germany’s Supply Chain Act (LkSG) to seven brands yielded little real change, raising doubts about the law’s effectiveness.
Living Wages Still Out of Reach for Most Workers
This BSBI analysis based on FashionChecker.org data reveals that 213 out of 219 major fashion companies globally still do not pay a living wage. Transparency around supply chains remains limited, despite growing consumer demand for ethical production. While some companies have made public commitments, very few have concrete strategies in place.
NEWS
EU Weakens Corporate Due Diligence: Worker's Protections at Risk
European Parliament MEPs have approved major simplifications to sustainability reporting and due‑diligence obligations: now only very large companies (5,000+ employees, €1.5 bn+ turnover) will be required to comply, and the mandatory “transition plan” for Paris‑Agreement alignment has been dropped. This rollback has sparked criticism from experts and labour advocates, who warn it significantly weakens protections for workers and could exclude many cases of forced labour, poverty wages, and unsafe conditions. Civil society groups warn that human rights protections in the EU Supply Chain Act have been weakened because, despite repeated promises, the CDU and CSU joined forces with far-right parties, effectively removing the long-standing safeguard against far-right influence.
Pressure on Workers Committees, Overtime, Unpaid Wages (New Textile Incident)
At Masihata Sweater Ltd union leaders report mounting pressure from management—including forced resignations, threats, and installation of a rival “committee” to undermine the existing workers’ council. Workers say they’ve been required to work extreme overtime—some reporting up to 155 hours in one month and missing rest or weekly days off. On top of that, there are claims that wages were severely delayed: by late August 2025, monthly paychecks had not been paid despite legal obligations.
Protests Over Unpaid Wages in Dhaka (New Textile Incident)
Workers from four garment factories in Dhaka’s Export Processing Zone staged a protest recently, demanding months of unpaid salaries after their factories were temporarily shut down. Protesters blocked the Nabinagar–Chandra road in Ashulia, clashing with police who used tear gas and water cannons. According to workers, some factories owe up to two and a half months of wages — despite earlier promises to clear the arrears.
Unfair Dismissals, Unpaid Dues at Mediceram (New Textile Incident)
At Mediceram Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, around 180–190 Bangladeshi workers have been dismissed after protesting unpaid wages, withheld recruitment fees, and poor working conditions. The workers accuse the company of confiscating passports, delaying visa renewals, and forcing them into debt bondage. Independent investigations suggest recruitment payments of up to USD 5,200 per worker and months of unpaid overtime. Despite pressure, the company has denied the claims, though buyers like Ansell have launched inquiries and called for remediation.
Shein Controversy Sparks Action Across Europe
French authorities are threatening to ban Shein in France after the company listed sex dolls with a “childlike” appearance on its platform. Shein has since removed those listings and says it will fully cooperate with the investigation. Meanwhile, Italy has stepped up regulation on Shein by passing a law to enforce new EU transparency rules: companies now must clearly disclose the environmental impact of their products, putting more pressure on fast fashion brands
PRODUCTION COUNTRIES
Bangladesh
Former Bangladeshi PM Sentences to Death
A special tribunal in Dhaka has found ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced her to death in absentia, following a violent crackdown on a student uprising in 2024. The court ruled that she ordered killings and used helicopters and lethal weapons against protesters, leading up to 1,400 deaths, according to UN estimates. Hasina, now exiled in India, strongly rejected the verdict, calling the tribunal “rigged” and politically motivated.
Ratifies Key ILO Conventions to Strengthen Worker Safety and Gender Equality
Bangladesh has ratified three critical ILO Conventions on occupational safety, health, and workplace violence and harassment, following sustained union campaigns. Convention 190, which addresses violence and gender-based harassment at work, sets an international benchmark for protection and accountability. While ratification is a major step, experts caution that legal reform and effective enforcement are essential to ensure real change, particularly for women in the garment sector.
Bangladesh Garment Sector Faces Turmoil Amid Labour Law Changes and Factory Closures
The Bangladeshi government has proposed a major labor law reform that would allow as few as 20 workers to form a trade union, replacing the current 20 % threshold. Employers warn that this change could spark industrial unrest, create confusion, and fragment union representation across factories. At the same time, more than 300 garment factories have shut down over the past 14 months, leaving nearly 120,000 workers unemployed. Factory owners blame rising production costs, policy uncertainty, and recent labor reforms for accelerating mass closures.
Bangladesh Garment Workers Cleared of Criminal Charges
Bangladesh’s interim government has dropped mass criminal cases filed against over 48,000 garment workers who were arrested during minimum-wage protests — a verdict hailed as a “massive victory” for workers and trade unions. Campaigners say the charges were largely unfounded, brought by factory owners to suppress protests over low pay, and linked to more than 40 global brands.
Bangladesh's Garment Sector Pressed to Adopt EU "Digital Passport" by 2027
Bangladesh’s ready-made garment factories face a turning point as the EU will require “Digital Product Passports”, unique digital IDs tracking a product’s lifecycle, environmental footprint, and human rights data, for apparel exports by 2027. The shift also poses significant risks: many suppliers lack the digital infrastructure and financial capacity to comply, and smaller factories fear exclusion from EU markets if they cannot meet the new data and documentation demands. Without proper support, the transition could deepen existing inequalities between large, well-resourced producers and smaller subcontracted facilities.
Women Factory Workers Can Stay on Shift until 10 PM
The Puducherry government has amended provisions under the Factories Act, 1984 to allow women to work in factories until 10 PM, up from the previous 7 PM limit. The move is intended to enhance gender equality and boost women’s participation in industrial employment, while also requiring employers to provide free transport for female workers. However, the notification makes clear that no woman may be required to work past 10 PM or before 5 AM, and safety and welfare standards must be maintained.
Uttar Pradesh Approves 12-Hour Factory Shifts Under New Factories Act
The Uttar Pradesh government has extended the maximum working hours in factories to 12 hours per day, if the weekly total does not exceed 48 hours, following enactment of the UP Factories (Amendment) Act. Workers may work continuously for up to six hours with written consent, and the quarterly overtime cap has risen from 75 to 144 hours. Overtime work beyond the daily limit
Just One Sunday to Sleep
In her personal diary entry, a garment worker in Bengaluru shares how relentless production demands leave her with virtually no rest: she barely gets one Sunday off and often works excessive overtime to make ends meet. Despite long hours, her monthly pay barely covers basic needs, leaving her exhausted and financially stretched.
Myanmar
Global Brands Exit Crushes Myanmar Garment Industry
Global fashion brands and skilled workers are leaving Myanmar’s garment sector, a move that’s hitting exports hard amid a 40 % U.S. tariff. This exodus is rooted in growing concerns over rights abuses following the military junta’s 2021 coup, which sparked growing labour‑rights
Myanmar Trade Union Leader Released But Pressure Remains
STUM (Solidarity of Trade Unions Myanmar) leader Daw Myo Myo Aye was released from Insein Prison on 20 October 2025, after more than three months of detention. Her release came with a 6 million MMK bail and restrictions that prohibit her from organizing, while her seized IT devices are held under a 60 million MMK bond, crippling her ability to communicate and mobilize. Despite the public victory, she remains formally charged, and nine other STUM members continue to be detained, putting the union's operations at severe risk.
NETWORK & EVENTS
24–26 November 2025, 09:00–18:00 CET –
14th UN Forum on Business & Human Rights at Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Accelerating Action on Business and Human Rights Amidst Crises and Transformations (hybrid)
The 14th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights, hosted by OHCHR, under the theme “Accelerating Action on Business and Human Rights Amidst Crises and Transformations” will bring together governments, civil society, business leaders, unions, and human rights defenders for critical dialogue on how to uphold human rights in business during times of geopolitical, economic, and environmental turmoil. Registration is required and closes on 23 November 2025.
Tuesday, 25 November 2025, 10:00–11:00 CET –
Webinar, Zoom
Update: Worker- and Community-Based Monitoring in Bangladesh(online via Zoom)
Online webinar provides an overview of recent findings from worker- and community-based monitoring in Bangladesh’s garment sector. Insights will be shared by FEMNET, ESDO, BILS, and international partners, with a focus on working conditions, environmental and health impacts, and gender-specific risks. The webinar offers a space to reflect on how on-the-ground evidence can strengthen corporate due diligence and support more effective protection of workers and communities.
Saturday, 29 November 2025, 11:00–18:00 CET –
Aktionstag „Grund und Boden“ at K21, Düsseldorf, Germany
Aktionstag zur Ausstellung "Grund und Boden"(in German)
International artists and collectives explore different ways of engaging with resources – from Indigenous practices to utopian blockchain projects. On 29 November, the focus will be on borders and movements, inviting participants to critically, collectively, and artistically explore key dimensions of living together and to consider how we can rethink and reshape land and resources. Activities include workshops, guided tours, and collaborative spaces for discussion and creativity.
Thursday, 11 December 2025, 11:00–12:15 CET –
Launch of the Clean Clothes Campaign Living Wage Roadmap
New Living Wage Roadmap (Online)
The Clean Clothes Campaign will present its new Living Wage Roadmap, outlining key steps needed from brands and policymakers to finally ensure living wages throughout the global garment industry. The session will feature perspectives from experts examining why wages in the sector have stagnated, why an updated roadmap is needed, and which collective measures could drive meaningful progress. The event offers an opportunity to gain insight into current wage trends, structural obstacles, and pathways toward fair compensation for workers in global supply chains. Registration is required.
We invite you to contribute events and networking opportunities for future editions by contacting us at
- Created on .