We have previously established that unreasonable targets and underbid contracts, that characterise fast fashion’s manufacturing model, force factory owners and management to abandon their duty to respect human rights. But their methods to refuse legally required benefits to women in their workforce is particularly deplorable when the matters of pregnancy and maternity are investigated. Workers are often denied maternity leave, child care, and breaks to breastfeed. The Workers Rights Consortium have found widespread issues with managers firing pregnant workers, and, astoundingly, factories where all female employees are forced to take pregnancy tests before their hire is confirmed. Few, if any, adjustments are made for workers during pregnancy – to their work station, their hours, even their expected levels of production. In one report, which listened to garment workers in Hondurus, women reported that if they did request to change positions, management would retaliate by ensuring their maternity leave pay was reduced to reflect minimum wage instead of her production wage. Another study, in Bangladesh, found that a significant number of child care centres, based in factories, were only opened when fashion buyers were visiting, to give the impression that legal obligations were being adhered to.
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is defined as “violence directed against a person because of their gender.” It is widely recognised that both women and men experience gender based violence, but the majority of victims are women and girls. If we look at this definition, and consider the aforementioned issue of women being deliberately employed because of their perceived weaknesses and defencelessness, it can be therefore be concluded that violence in this industry is predominantly gender-based. Physical and verbal abuse is widely reported across the sector. Supervisors and other members of management will regularly shout, insult and criticize workers. Reports have also found many women are physically abused, some being hit, pushed, kicked and punched, and beatings commonplace in some places when production targets are not met. Others will deliberately not touch the workers to avoid evidence for police, instead throwing materials or equipment at the women or kicking away their chairs. Workers have also told of assaults and attacks taking place on their way to or from work, and in their employer-provided housing.
This violence regularly takes an even darker and more disturbing turn, in the form of sexual harassment, abuse, and rape. Women regularly experience inappropriate touching and verbal sexual harassment in their workplace, with managers also reported to insinuate their facilitation of better labour conditions, in exchange for sexual favours. Upon her new employment being made official, one worker was told “Be good to me and things will go well for you.” Coercion into sexual relationships is found to happen, with one report from Indonesia telling of women being threatened with their jobs, and therefore their livelihoods, if they do not engage in sexual acts with management. In Bangladesh, women were threatened with rape following their demonstrations against low wages. In each report, women consistently tell of their suppression and silencing, through management’s threats to their job, or through further threats to their personal safety.
