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WELCOME TO THE ARCHIVE (1994-2014) OF THE MAQUILA SOLIDARITY NETWORK. For current information on our ongoing work on the living wage, women's labour rights, freedom of association, corporate accountability and Bangladesh fire and safety, please visit our new website, launched in October, 2015: www.maquilasolidarity.org

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November 5, 2013

Protection contracts wide spread in Mexico’s electronics sector

CETIEN(Photo: CETIEN)

In August, the Centre for Reflection and Labour Action (CEREAL in Spanish) 
in Guadalajara, Mexico released its 2012 report on labour issues and cases
of worker rights violations in the country's electronics manufacturing industry.
The report highlights the problem of employer protection contracts signed
between hundreds of electronics manufacturing firms and unelected
union leaders.

 

September 21, 2012

Wire | September 21, 2012

New iPhone, old abuses

September 5, 2012

The Wire | September 6, 2012

MSN Update now available for download

July 13, 2012

Wire: July 13, 2012

14 days to go: Make the next Olympics fully sweat-free

June 19, 2012

Wire: June 19, 2012

Can National Competitiveness Strategies include Decent Work?

January 23, 2012

Union leaders reinstated in Haiti

Shortly after a new union was formed last September in Haiti's growing apparel manufacturing sector, six of the seven workers who serve on the union's executive committee were fired or forced to resign by the factories where they worked. But we're pleased to report that thanks to concerted efforts by Haitian and international labour rights groups, all but one of the workers have now been reinstated and are back at work.

January 23, 2012

Bangladesh: Workers still dying in unsafe buildings

Just over a year ago a fire at That's It Sportswear garment factory in Bangladesh caused the death of 29 workers, and injured a number of others, eleven of them seriously. Sadly, in December 2011 two more workers perished and over fifty were injured in a stampede triggered by panic after a boiler explosion at the Bangladesh factory Eurotex. There is an urgent need to establish a credible programme to address the serious safety issues that remain endemic in the readymade garment industry.

December 29, 2011

Campaign against Precarious Work 2011-2014

Precarious work, and in particular the abuse of short-term employment contracts and employment agencies, is recognized as a growing problem in the garment industry world-wide, and one that is increasing workers' vulnerability and limiting the exercise of freedom of association. MSN worked with national, regional and international counterparts to address this dangerous shift toward precarious work and the negative consequences for workers and their communities.

November 16, 2011

Haiti’s showdown on union rights

The apparel industry was widely hailed in some circles as a vital economic opportunity for Haiti, particularly after the devastating earthquake which hit the country in January 2010. Although the creation of approximately 26,000 jobs in the country is certainly welcome, the full benefits of those jobs will only be felt if the workers have access to their legal rights, including the right to form unions and bargain collectively, and are paid a living wage. 

December 23, 2009

MSN recommends independent consortium to implement ethical purchasing

In order to ensure that the power of municipal ethical purchasing policies (EPPs) is effectively used to improve conditions in apparel factories, municipalities should collaborate with other governments and public institutions. MSN believes that Canadian municipalities and possibly provincial governments should establish a Canadian consortium to jointly implement their respective EPPs.