PThe H&M GFA covers more than one million garment workers who are employed in 1,000 factories run by the manufacturers where H&M buys their products. Credit: Gettyimages – Bloomberg

The updated GFA builds on eight years of partnership and covers workers in around 1,000 factories supplying H&M Group.

The updated GFA features:

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  • Commitments to collaborate on due diligence aligned with OECD Guidelines,
  • Strengthened language on preventing and providing remedy to gender-based violence and harassment,
  • Acknowledgment of industry collaborations like ACT, the ACCORD, and Bangladesh’s RSC and Employment Injury Scheme.

Atle Hoie, IndustriALL’s general secretary added: “With this renewed agreement we continue the important work in the sector of further empowering workers and unions in H&M’s supply chain.

“The GFA includes significant achievements, like the inclusion of all core ILO conventions, as well as ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment. Neutrality in union organising is another important element of the agreement.

“The national monitoring committees, a global steering committee, a joint industrial relations development committee, and importantly a dispute resolution mechanism that is bound by the decision of the independent mediator, provide a solid ground for functional industrial relations needed for a sustainable textile and garment industry.”

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H&M Group CEO Daniel Ervér added that well-functioning industrial relations, including collective bargaining, are key in promoting good working conditions and improved wages, viewing it as a step towards a more sustainable fashion industry.

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The global framework agreement will continue to establish that

  • The parties will jointly promote the signing of collective agreements both at factory, company and industrial level between relevant social partners,
  • Workers have the right to refuse unsafe work as part of their health and safety rights,
  • The parties will provide training for both management and union representatives on employers’ responsibilities, workers’ rights and obligations, industrial relations, collective bargaining agreements and peaceful conflict resolution,
  • H&M will actively use all its possible leverage to ensure that its direct suppliers respect human and trade union rights in the workplace,
  • Workers’ representatives are not discriminated against and have access to carry out their representative functions in the workplace.

The agreement’s success will hinge on effective implementation, as noted by IF Metall president Marie Nilsson: “Now the important part begins, ensuring that we move from policy to practice.”

The digital fashion outlet Afound, offering great deals on past and present collections from fashion and lifestyle brands, will close down, H&M said last week following a review of the operation which revealed a lack of demand for it.