Call on G-Star to Ensure a Fair Deal for FFI Workers Participate in International Action Day on Dec. 17! On December 1, an Indian court ordered the arrest of human rights activists from the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) and the India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN), as well as the director of Internet service provider Antenna. The activists and the internet provider are the targets of legal harassment by G-Star supplier Fibres and Fabrics International Pvt. Ltd. (FFI) and its subsidiary Jeans Knit Pvt. Ltd. (JKPL) in retaliation for disseminating information about labor rights violations. On December 6, G-Star, the principal client of FFI/JKPL, finally joined other brands in severing its business relationship with FFI/JKPL. While this is a positive step in the right direction, G-Star must now make good on its promise of ethical treatment of workers by developing a responsible exit strategy that makes the employment of FFI/JKPL employees its top priority. While finishing their current orders, G-Star should also make it clear to FFI/JKPL that new orders can be negotiated if, and only if, FFI/JKPL withdraws the court cases and enters into a good faith dialogue with the local organizations involved. Please take action today and call on G-Star to: Divert its FFI/JKPL orders to factories in the immediate vicinity that are willing to engage in socially responsible production and to stipulate that these factories give priority to FFI/JKPL workers as they hire additional staff. Publicly convey to FFI/JKPL that compliance with G-Star's code of conduct requires freedom of association, which includes the right of unions and labour rights organizations to speak about labour conditions and the freedom to organize workers and perform union duties. Publicly affirm that suing unions or labour rights organizations for circulating information on labour rights' violations, thereby restraining their right to freedom of speech and to organize workers, is incompatible with their expectations of their suppliers' respect for freedom of association. Finally, G-Star should make it clear to FFI/JKPL that new orders can be negotiated if, and only if, FFI/JKPL withdraws the court cases and enters into a good faith dialogue with the local organizations involved. Take action now 1. Send a letter to G-Star 2. Participate in a flier action at a G-Star store near you on Dec. 17. Email us for more information. Further background information.

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Landelijke India Werkgroep - January 9, 2008