IndustriALL Global Union and Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) have collaborated to train its direct suppliers and their workers in improving relations and dialogue between social partners. Lately, labour unrest has shaken the Asian garment industry. The unrest was due to low wages and poor working conditions, such as pay protests in Cambodia in 2014.

Asian low-cost countries are the ones where Sweden-based H&M sources from. At H&M, collective bargaining and talks between employers, employees and unions play a big role in wage-setting. Anna Gedda, Sustainability Chief, H&M, says the union association would train managements and workers in negotiating wages and working conditions and promote collective agreements and freedom of association. Besides, they would offer advice and support in solving conflicts and would also train the parties in how to solve conflicts, she added.

Gedda stated they wanted to achieve functioning labour market relations in these countries, like in Sweden and that workers should be able to negotiate salaries, solve conflicts peacefully and organise themselves in unions. The initial focus would be on H&MS’s Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Turkey sourcing companies. She added that around 600 direct suppliers in the four countries would start receiving training in 2016.

Gedda also mentioned that they would demand the participation of suppliers in training and in the event a supplier does not wish to participate, they would discuss what relation they will have with them in future.