H&M and IndustriALL Global Union have joined hands to establish a national monitoring committee (NMC) in India. This NMC is a part of the ongoing implementation of the global framework agreement (GFA).
India is very important for H&M as it is sourcing from many apparel exporters. Also it has many sustainable initiatives that in the process. Its retail operations are also growing well in the country.
The Indian NMC is now the sixth country-based NMC – the others are in leading apparel production countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Turkey. The committee is also the first to be composed of all women members.
The purpose of the NMC is to develop the national short and long-term plans and strategies for implementing the GFA at H&M suppliers. The monitoring committees are composed of local trade unions as well as H&M representatives.
IndustriALL NMC members include Prathibha R from Unions United, Rukmini VP from Textile Workers Federation of India and Thilagam Ramalingam from IndustriALL South Asia office, among others.
Recently a two-day meeting in Bengaluru focused on building an understanding of complaint resolutions and the NMC’s role in the process. Further discussions centred around the development of joint awareness training on freedom of association and collective bargaining for management and workers at H&M suppliers.
‘’The formation of the NMC in India is a very important step to ensure that the GFA with H&M is implemented effectively. We look forward to having better industrial relations in all H&M suppliers.’’ – IndustriALL
