www.renaklader.org

Rena Kläder - ICTU

Solidarity Forum

August 27th 2010

www.renaklader.org

Rena Kläder/CCC

How it all started…..

• Clean Clothes Campaign• An alliance of NGO:s and Trade Unions• Started:1990 in the Netherlands• 15 national networks in 14 countries in

Europe (16 networks with Ireland!)• More than 250 partners all over the globe• International secretariat in Amsterdam

www.renaklader.org

CCC in Sweden – Rena Kläder

• Trade Unions, youth organizations

• Networking structure

• Workmeetings 4 times/year

• Strategy planning days 2 times/year

• Workgroups on a local level all over Sweden

Emmaus Stockholm

www.renaklader.org

www.renaklader.org

Keys to successful work in Sweden• Using the strengths of our different member organizations• Trade Unions taking an active role

Using existing contacts with companiesUsing their knowledge of the industry and workplacesMaking sure the Trade Unions are active in dialogue with companiesHaving both IF Metall and Handels as membersClose dialogue and co-operation with ITGLWF

• Not making the office do all the work• Setting up local working groups to reach out to the public• Making sure our stand on issues within the international CCC is well supported within our national CCC• Getting past the differences in how NGO:s and Trade Unions work• Making sure that both the NGO:s and Trade Unions have a well defined role within the network

What does Rena Kläder do?

• Information to the public

• Education

• Campaigning

• Solidarity work

www.renaklader.org

Campaigning

• International and national campaigns

• Reports

• Campaignfiles

• Materials

• E-actions

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Urgent appeals

• Solidarity with NGO’s and Trade Unions in developing countries

• Working directly and indirectly towards Swedish companies

• Major tools: E-actions on our website.

• Public and non-public appeals

• Worker tours

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Problems in the industry

• No living wages• Extremely long working

hours• Sexual harassment • Poor working

environment• No Union rights• Environmental

problems

What needs to be done by companies?

• More internal knowledge• Assuming a Code of

Conduct as a start.• Focus on Union rights• Education of workers• Sign a global framework

agreement• Co-operation within the

industry• Changes in purchasing

strategies

• Payment of a living wage• Work with complaints

mechanisms and reliable inspections

• Focus on gender related issues

• Improvements in environmental issues, within the workplace and in general

• Being transparent

What has happened since the start?

• Improved working environment

• Decrease in child labour

• Standardization of Codes of Conduct

• Increased transparency (for some companies)

Why are we doing this? –Sophea in Cambodia is one of several million reasons!

Our websites

• http://www.renaklader.org

• http://www.cleanclothes.org