Why should the EU legislate living wages in the textile sector?
By Jos Huber, Former Senior Policy Officer at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The influence of mutual price competition is so great that companies are unable to achieve living wages on a voluntary basis. This will only work if the government enforces cooperation and better purchasing practices.
Nowadays, we can calculate the level of a living wage in the countries where our clothing is produced. The International Labor Organization is also behind this.
The level of such a living wage differs per country, but that should be no longer an obstacle to European regulation. Just think of the EU countries, they all have a different minimum wage, but the EU now requires EU countries that this minimum wage is high enough to be able to live a decent life. We must also want that for countries outside the EU that make garments for our stores.
Earning a living wage is a human right. That statement looks good on paper, but it doesn't happen by itself. This requires action from companies and governments. Brands must make agreements with their suppliers about living wages. They must agree that textile producers will bridge the wage gap between the current wage and a living wage. And governments should check whether companies do. And to what extent those agreements have an effect. Of course, this is only possible if clothing brands pay a fair price to manufacturers.
Is arranging a living wage not primarily a matter for trade unions, employers and governments in production countries? Yes, a minimum wage at the level of a living wage is a huge step forward. I call it the royal road. But many production countries are hesitant to take real steps in this direction, because they are afraid of losing orders. Our proposal for EU regulation is a major boost to local trade unions in their fight for decent minimum wages.
Will our clothes become much more expensive? Maybe a little, but really not that much more expensive. That's well researched. And let's face it, clothing that has been produced fairly feels much more comfortable.
We are all addicted to clothes at low prices. Even I sometimes get tempted, no matter how conscious I am. I would love to be sure that the price is fair wherever I buy clothes in the EU.