Mental health is not a luxury. It is a human/basic right. “Because each working day is stressful, I usually cry when I get home from work.” This is how a woman working in Indonesia’s footwear industry described her daily life. On the other side of Asia, a garment worker in Bangalore shared how intense production pressure affects not just her health, but her sleep and appetite. Read more …
Fashion’s Hidden Cost: Systemic Change for Women’s Safety & Health in Garment and Footwear Factories As the world marks International Women’s Day 2025 with the theme #AccelerateAction, it is crucial to confront the systemic gender biases embedded in global supply chains. Women in garment and footwear factories remain at heightened risk of gender-based violence and health hazards. Yet their specific needs are consistently overlooked in legal frameworks, corporate policies, and workplace structures. The Multi-Actor-Partnership (MAP) on 'Gender and Health in Garment and Footwear Sectors', comprising Cividep India, TURC Indonesia, FEMNET, and SÜDWIND (both Germany), seeks to address these injustices through policy advocacy and worker-driven solutions. Our findings highlight the urgent need for Gender-Responsive Occupational Health and Safety (G*OSH) guidelines to tackle both physical and mental health concerns. Read more …
