September '25 | About the violent attack on garment workers in Dhaka, the upcoming conference on due diligence and labour rights, and more...
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 upcoming conference on 7 October 2025 at the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung in Berlin, which will bring together experts, trade unions, and civil society to address the future of supply chain accountability. Meanwhile, the Textile Incident List website reports on the violent dispersal of dismissed garment workers in Dhaka on 13 August, leaving at least 30 people injured while demanding unpaid compensation.
We hope you find these insights useful!
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STUDIES & REPORTS
Toxic Heavy Metals Threaten Health Near Calcutta’s Textile Belt
Alarming contamination of soil, crops, and water with heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and nickel is the result of a two-year scientific study (2022–2023) in the Calcutta textile industry area. Local agro-products were shown to contain up to 40 times more toxic metals than WHO/FAO limits, while being severely deficient in zinc. These pollutants, traced to small-scale textile dyeing units, are linked to rising gastrointestinal disorders, cancer risks, and ulcers among residents.
Fashion Supply Chains Under Fire for Labour Exploitation in Bangladesh (pdf)
Across Bangladesh’s garment industry, workers face systemic abuse: child labour in hidden workshops, forced labour, withheld wages, and violence are all commonplace. Research by Oxfam Australia and the Human Rights Law Centre, surveying more than 400 workers, shows that nearly every employee earns below a living wage, with women hit hardest. Australian brands sourcing from these supply chains risk being tied to conditions amounting to modern slavery.
Garment Boom in Bengaluru Spurs Alarming Textile Waste Crisis(pdf not yet available)
A study by the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) finds that Bengaluru’s booming garment sector is producing extremely large quantities of textile waste such as discarded clothes and fabric scraps, that the city cannot manage. The current waste streams are overwhelming infrastructure and increasing environmental hazards, including pollution from decaying textiles and likely impacts on public health.
NEWS
Bangladesh Garment Workers Attacked While Demanding Unpaid Compensation (New Textile Incident)
On 13 August 2025, police violently dispersed a peaceful march by dismissed garment workers in Dhaka, leaving at least 30 people injured, including union leader Kazi Ruhul Amin. The protest, organized by the Bangladesh Garment and Sweater Workers Trade Union Centre, involved employees who had been denied legally mandated compensation after dismissal. Read more on the Textile Incident List Website.
Toxic Threads: Textile Pollution Threatens Southeast Asia’s Security
Uncontrolled discharges of dyes, PFAS, and heavy metals from Southeast Asia’s textile hubs are poisoning rivers, farmland, and communities, fueling cancers, ecological collapse, and displacement. Weak enforcement, high compliance costs, and opaque supply chains leave most factories unchecked. Without binding accountability and transparent reporting, fashion brands risk reputational fallout while local populations bear the toxic burden.
Germany Weakens Supply Chain Law Ahead of EU Directive (in German)
The German government plans to suspend reporting under the LkSG and limit sanctions to serious violations, cutting bureaucratic costs by €4 million. The move aligns with EU CSDDD negotiations, which could delay implementation until 2028 and restrict the law to larger firms, while SMEs bear compliance burdens. Critics warn that without strong enforcement and transparency, the law risks becoming largely symbolic.
PRODUCTION COUNTRIES
Bangladesh
RMG Worker Killed Amid Ongoing Repression
On September 1, 2025, Habibur Rahman, a 20-year-old garment worker, was shot dead during a protest over layoffs and unpaid wages, highlighting a pattern of violence against RMG workers. Despite the sector employing over four million people, low wages, weak unions, and police repression persist, while Industrial Police protect factory owners and global brands profit from unsafe conditions.
Bangladesh Confirms 13th Parliamentary Elections for February 2026
Bangladesh’s interim government has reaffirmed its commitment to hold general elections in the first week of February 2026, with preparations underway, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul stated. The announcement follows Election Commission confirmation and remarks by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
RMG Sector Faces Order Risks Without Human Rights Compliance
According to some experts, the garment industry of Bangladesh could lose international orders after 2029 if factories fail to implement Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) and protect workers’ rights. While EU laws already hold brands accountable, responsibility is often shifted to local suppliers, highlighting the need for stricter domestic enforcement and greater supply chain accountability.
Bangladesh Seeks Interpol Red Notices Against Garment Factory Owners
The government has requested Interpol Red Notices against the owners of TNZ Group, Dird Group, and Roar Fashion Ltd for failing to pay workers’ dues and remaining abroad for prolonged periods (Red Notices are international alerts to locate and provisionally arrest wanted persons).
The Fallout of Tariffs: Jobs, Livelihoods, and the Indian Textile Sector
India’s garment industry in Tamil Nadu is facing severe disruption due to the US imposing 50% tariffs on apparel, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of workers. Factories in export hubs like Tiruppur, Coimbatore, and Karur are reducing production and laying off contract and migrant workers, putting over 100,000 jobs at risk. Women workers, in particular, are vulnerable, as layoffs increase household debt and reduce financial autonomy. To ease costs, the Indian government temporarily suspended cotton import duties, providing short-term relief to exporters. US tariffs make Indian goods less competitive than Bangladesh, Vietnam and China, prompting concerns over lost orders and delayed shipments. Labour unions and experts stress the need for government support, fair cost-sharing by brands, and market diversification to protect workers and sustain the sector.
Exhausted and Overworked: Women in Bangalore’s Garment Sector
Women garment workers in Bangalore face long 9.5 hour shifts, leaving little time for rest or personal routines. Many also handle full caregiving responsibilities at home, often without nearby family support. Cividep India’s report notes they spend six hours daily on unpaid domestic work. Compensatory Saturdays are used for chores, offering little real rest. With few alternative skills, most remain in the sector, as piecework offers less security and benefits.
Myanmar
IndustriALL Urges Brands to Leave Myanmar
IndustriALL has called on brands like Next and Hunkemöller to exit Myanmar, where garment workers face forced labor and union bans under military rule. The ILO invoked its highest sanction, Article 33, highlighting that continued sourcing funds repression. IndustriALL says the only responsible action is withdrawal with measures to protect workers.
NETWORK & EVENTS
Tuesday, 7th October 2025, 09:30–19:00 CET – Conference at the Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung, Berlin, Germany:
Due Diligence und Arbeitsrechte – Umsetzung, Erwartungen und Perspektiven entlang der Lieferkette
(in English with German translation provided unless otherwise noted)
The conference brings together experts, policymakers, trade union representatives, and civil society actors from Germany, Europe, and the Global South to discuss the current status and future of human rights due diligence in global supply chains. Participants will explore the implementation and impact of the German Supply Chain Act and the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), examine the crucial role of trade unions, and exchange perspectives on challenges and best practices for ensuring compliance and protecting workers along supply chains. Registration is required.
Thursday, 9th October 2025, 8pm – 9:30pm CET, Online Lecture:
fashion interACTION: Expert*inneninput zu Kreislaufwirtschaft
(in German)
The fashion interACTION network will host an online session with author and sustainability expert Thekla Wilkening (Kreislaufwirtschaft in der Textilindustrie, Springer Verlag, 2024). The lecture will explore how civil society, politics, and businesses can contribute to a functioning circular economy in the textile industry. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and join the discussion. Registration is required.
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