One of the recommendations
in the document Common Wealth for the Common Good is:
(4) p. 98 - That
Governments legislate against policies or practices which
lead to the exploitation of workers, and monitor compliance
with such legislation.
There
is still a long way to go in Australia so that workers are
not exploited. One ongoing and continually developing campaign
is the FAIR WEAR CAMPAIGN. In 1996, in response to union
and community pressure, several key retailers and manufacturers
signed a voluntary agreement known as the Homeworkers Code
of Practice. Signing the Code commits companies to taking
responsibility for paying fair wages to the makers of their
garments, however far down the chain of production they might
be situated. The aim of the Code is to eliminate the exploitation
of outworkers in the clothing industry in Australia, ensuring
workers receive award wages and conditions. In Australia, the Homeworkers
Code of Practice provides procedures to ensure that a commitment
to fair wages and conditions can be fulfilled.
Do
you know how and who made the clothes you buy and wear?
The Fair Wear Campaign,
a coalition of churches, unions and community groups, was formed
to increase public awareness of the exploitation experienced
by many home-based outworkers in Australia. Community action
initiated by the Fair Wear Campaign has added to the pressure
on retailers and manufacturers to sign the Code of Practice.
Letter writing, demonstrations and negotiations have all had
a significant effect in progressing the aim of eliminating
exploitation of outworkers. See the Fair
Wear website.
The Fair School
Wear Campaign had developed from the main campaign due
to the exploitation that occurs in the production of school
uniforms. Given the strong educational tradition of religious
congregations, this campaign provides a great opportunity
and challenge for Catholic schools to explore the issues
involved. Members of congregations can dialogue with their
members in education, members of School Boards and Parents
and Friends Associations about the issues. The following
Catholic schools in Australia have taken up the challenge
to engage in this campaign:
MacKillop
Catholic College (WA); St Patrick's College, Campbelltown;
Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta; Our Lady of the Nativity,
Lawson; Our Lady of the Rosary, Shelley Beach; Monte Sant Angelo
Mercy College.
We can all work towards
less exploitation by doing the following:
support products
made free from exploitation by choosing to purchase from
companies which have signed the Homeworkers Code of Practice;
communicate with
current suppliers which have not signed the Code that in
negotiating future contracts they will be supporting those
who have signed the Code of Practice;
raise the outwork
issue for debate within the school community;
provide Fair Wear
with details of where and how school uniforms are made.
Schools can demonstrate
their commitment to ending the exploitation of outworkers by
signing the statement of commitment.
There
is still a long way to go in Australia so that workers are
not exploited. One ongoing and continually developing campaign
is the FAIR WEAR CAMPAIGN. In 1996, in response to union
and community pressure, several key retailers and manufacturers
signed a voluntary agreement known as the Homeworkers Code
of Practice. Signing the Code commits companies to taking
responsibility for paying fair wages to the makers of their
garments, however far down the chain of production they might
be situated. The aim of the Code is to eliminate the exploitation
of outworkers in the clothing industry in Australia, ensuring
workers receive award wages and conditions. In Australia, the Homeworkers
Code of Practice provides procedures to ensure that a commitment
to fair wages and conditions can be fulfilled.
