Every month, editors gather the key news from around the globe. Here are November’s top stories, encompassing positive progress for garment workers, an interview with trade-unionist Kalpona Akter and a report on the workforce in India’s textile-sorting hub.
1. Piñatex-maker UK arm enters administration
The UK branch of the company behind the pineapple-based material Piñatex, Ananas Anam UK Limited, has entered administration. The company’s other branches in Spain and the Philippines are not included in this process, and the impact on manufacturing and supply remains uncertain.
2. Kalpona Akter: why garment workers still lack dignified jobs?
In an interview, Bangladeshi trade union leader Kalpona Akter discusses the shifts and obstacles in her country’s garment industry, her vision for the future and the central importance of living wages.
3. Bangladesh drops criminal charges against 48,000 garment workers
The Bangladeshi government has dismissed criminal cases against approximately 48,000 garment-industry workers who were prosecuted for involvement in minimum-wage protests in 2023. The decision followed two years of advocacy by labour-justice organisations and trade unions.
4. EU lawmakers back reductions to sustainability law’s scope
Amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) will limit its applicability to larger companies—resulting in fewer businesses being held accountable for labour and environmental issues in supply chains.
5. Tod’s faces labour-abuse allegations in its supply chain
Italian shoemaker Tod’s has been accused by Milan prosecutors of labour abuses via its subcontractors. Though no criminal charges have been filed yet, the brand may be required to upgrade its supply-chain auditing.
6. Bangladesh factory fire kills at least 16
A fire at a garment factory and chemical warehouse in Dhaka killed at least 16 people. Despite improvements since the Rana Plaza disaster, deadly factory fires remain alarmingly frequent.
7. (…and onwards through items 7-12)
The remaining stories cover topics such as textile-recycler partnerships, innovations in recycled fibres, voluntary retailer commitments, regional producer challenges and new supply-chain transparency regulations.
