Last week, FWF"s international verification coordinator Ivo Spauwen was in Ukraine to work with the audit team and talk to stakeholders. His thoughts:

EU apparel companies traditionally look East for suppliers. As several production countries in Asia are coping with wildcat strikes and rising labour cost, Eastern Europe might present an attractive alternative closer to home. In Ukraine, Europe’s second largest country, the local sector hopes to benefit from recent developments in Asia.

Following labour shortages in many of its industrialised regions, legal minimum wages have been increased in 27 of China’s provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities between February and August 2010.  Although these increases are regarded as a step in the right direction, minimum wages in China still fall (far) short of living wages.

On the first of September it is three years since the fashion company Fabric Scandinavien, with brands such as Cheap Monday and Weekday, became the first Swedish FWF affiliate. There are now in total seven Swedish FWF affiliates, six successful fashion brands, ACNE, Fabric Scandinavien, Filippa K, J.Lindeberg, Nudie Jeans and Odd Molly, as well as Kwintet Far East, a leading apparel company in Europe.

Club Green is a Dutch online sustainability platform. In a Q&A on Fair Fashion, FWF's director Erica van Doorn explains how FWF works and why 'fair fashion' is not a clear-cut reality yet. Click here to read the interview (in Dutch).

Recently, FWF learned through local stakeholders in Bangladesh that the national wage board was preparing to advise the government on changes to the minimum wage. FWF joined with member companies that source from Bangladesh to write a letter to the board urging the adoption of a new minimum wage that meets workers’ basic needs. Many other organizations issued similar appeals.

Last week the government of Bangladesh raised the legal minimum wage to 3000 Taka per month, an increase of 80% from the previous level of 1662.50 Taka per month. FWF regards the wage increase as a step into the right direction.

FWF is also aware that 3000 Taka per month is still not sufficient to cover the basic expenses of workers and their families. Local and international NGOs and trade unions are pressing for further wage increases. FWF will continue to contribute to the social dialogue between stakeholders in support of an agreement that secures both living wages and a stable business environment.