Press Releases
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE, GARMENT AND LEATHER WORKERS FEDERATION
January 25, 2010
ITGLWF Working to Shape a Response to Support Haitian Garment Workers
In the wake of the tragic earthquake that has devastated Haiti, the ITGLWF is working with the international trade union movement and with other players in the sector to shape a response in the short-, medium- and longer-term for garment workers and their families.
Tragically, over 500 workers died at the Palm T-shirt factory based in Carrefour, the epicenter of the quake. The Palm factory disaster is believed to be the biggest loss of life at a single site.
Many other factories in Port-au-Prince have been damaged but as most of them have not yet re-opened little is known about the plight of the workers they employed.
The ITGLWF is currently working with other players in the sector to determine what options might be available to provide assistance to garment workers affected by the earthquake and to ensure the longer-term reconstruction of the sector on the basis of the provision of decent work.
ITGLWF affiliates in the Dominican Republic have been engaged in provided humanitarian relief to the people of Haiti. The International Trade Union Confederation has also launched a solidarity fund for Haiti. Details are available on the ITUC website.
The International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation is a global union federation bringing together 220 affiliated organisations in 110 countries with a combined membership of 10 million workers.
For more information, contact:
Patrick Itschert (General Secretary) at32/2/512.26.06 or office@itglwf.org
Visit our website at www.itglwf.org
