‘No Sweat Shop’ label now more accessible to emerging local talent

The Homeworkers Code of Practice (HWCP) Committee that administers the ‘Accreditation’ system for the ‘No Sweat Shop’ label, has announced it’s new fee structure to come into effect at the beginning of 2008.

The changes to the fee structure are designed to make the HWCP Accreditation system for Australian-based manufacturing more affordable for emerging small to medium sized clothing fashion-houses and designers.

HWCP Project Officer, Tommy Clarke, hopes the reduced fee for labels that have been in business for less then two years will see a new wave of designers adopting the principals of ethical manufacturing.

“I think 2008 is going to be an exciting year for the No Sweat Shop label. We’re speaking with a number of small innovative designers that have a commitment to local and ethical manufacturing, and now with a the new fee structure, they’ll be able to utilise the Homeworkers Code of Practice to ensure they have the appropriate systems in place during their seminal years,” Mr Clarke said.

Under the new fee system, ‘start up’ companies in their first year will have an application fee of $800, before moving up to $1,200 in their second year. This is in addition to the existing $500 ‘HWCP designer scholarship’ category that has already attracted applications from companies such as the not-for-profit, Rise Up Productions, and emerging trend setter, New Model Beauty Queen. At the other end of the spectrum, well established and large brands will be invited to lead the way in supporting the HWCP’s efforts by contributing to a ‘patrons’ scheme with a fee of $4,000 per annum. The standard flat rate of $2,000 per annum will also remain in place.

With a growing consumer base of environmentally and ethically conscious consumers, Mr Clarke believes early adopters of independent and reputable codes of practices such as the HWCP, stand to benefit commercially.

“Even just based on the type of enquiries I get through the No Sweat Shop label website, I definitely think clean, green and sweat-free products are finding a strong foothold in the market. So to anyone in the ragtrade wanting to take the step and commit to ethical manufacturing, I recommend you get in touch and see how the No Sweat Shop label could benefit you,” Mr Clarke said.

BoSL Report: Ethical Threads

During the Melbourne Spring Fashion Week (2007), the Brotherhood of St Laurence launched a report on corporate social responsibility in the clothing industry. The 'Ethical Threads' report found that the clothes Australians buy are produced by companies that have been slow to embrace both mandatory and voluntary mechanisms to protect workers' conditions in this country and overseas. Yet local outworkers interviewed said working conditions were worse than five years ago because a shortage of work left them with little bargaining power with contractors. You can download a copy of the Ethical Threads report here >>

Labor Party pledges $4million to HWCP if elected

At an event in Sydney on 1 June 2007, the Australian Labor Party's Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Julia Gillard, met with a group of homeworkers and recently graduated fashion designers to announce Labor's commitment to fully fund the HWCP if it is elected at the upcoming Federal election.

Ms Gillard said she believes Australians, as a decent people, don't want their clothing to be made in exploitative conditions.

"This nation has fashion designers it can be proud of. Today I've met some of the fashion designers; some of the young faces of Australian fashion that I would hope will lead the world as their careers develop. But whilst we have the most beautiful fashion available to us, unfortunately too much of what we see in our stores has been made, predominantly by women who work at home, often under conditions were they are exploited," Ms Gillard said

Citing pay rates of less than $4 an hour and an absence of sick leave and superannuation payments, Ms Gillard said a Rudd Labor Government will make sure they make a difference for such Australian homeworkers who are so at risk with their working conditions.

The Project Officer for the Homeworkers Code of Practice, Tommy Clarke, said funding to the independent, joint union-industry, committee that oversees an 'Accreditation' process for clothing garments made in Australia, would help foster and promote a new generation of local designers committed to ethical manufacturing.

"The voluntary Homeworkers Code of Practice and 'No Sweat Shop' label initiative provides many benefits to home-based workers, to local businesses and also to consumers who want to be confident that the Australian-made clothes they buy have been made in an ethical fashion," Mr Clarke said.

The HWCP committee is also pursuing potential funding with the Liberal Government, having met with representatives from the office of the Minister of Employment and Workplace Relations, Joe Hockey, to discuss a funding submission.

Newsletter

A pdf copy of the HWCP 'Winter 07' Newsletter can be downloaded here.