- How many home-based outworkers are there?
There are an estimated 329,000 homeworkers in the textile, clothing and footwear industries Australia wide.
- What do homeworkers earn?
Homeworkers have reported earning as little as $1 to $2 an hour. It is also common for homeworkers to not be paid for the work they do, they are often isolated and vulnerable to contractors who take advantage of them.
- If homeworkers wages are improved does this mean that more people will lose their work?
We must apply the same standards for all workers in Australia.
It is not acceptable for workers to receive less than the minimum wage standards where ever they work.
The industry is reliant on using homebased outworkers because it gives them much greater flexibility and cost savings.
Many people are doing homework because they cannot get work elsewhere, they have not been able to learn enough English, cannot get their overseas qualifications recognised; or have young children and cannot get childcare; or choose to work from home.
It is better for people to receive award wages for their work and others to receive training and assistance to learn English and move into other vocational areas.
- Will this mean that more work will go offshore?
The majority of work made by homebased outworkers is fashion wear or clothing with a fashion trend, this makes it less likely that the work will go offshore. Fashion wear requires a quick response and to be made close to the market.
Consumers choice and preference for Australian made products will be decisive in retailers purchasing products that are Australian made.
Companies producing in Australia can operate profitably but many move offshore to make even greater profit margins. We need to question not only companies where they source their goods from in Australia but also under what conditions do the workers work who produce the goods in other countries for the Australian market.
- Who do l ask to find out if homeworkers are being used?
Ask company headquarters or at retail outlets do they use contractors and if they have signed the homeworkers industry code of practice.
Retailers don't employ homeworkers directly, the companies who supply the goods - their suppliers use contractors who depend on homeworkers to produce the clothes at low rates.
It is important that we ask retailers and manufacturers to take responsibility for where their products are made and under what conditions, this includes where the work goes and the wages homeworkers receive for their work.
- Is it better if companies don't use any homebased outworkers?
Most homebased workers do not receive the lawful minimum wage standards. We do not oppose homeworking but do oppose homeworkers being treated as second class workers. Homebased outworkers are legititimate workers who deserve protection.
- Wouldn't it be better if everyone worked in a factory?
The problem is that many factories have closed and now depend on homeworkers for the majority of the sewing in Australia.
Working in a factory doesn't always suit everyone.
What is important is that people have regular work, good conditions, and get paid their award wages.
- Does this mean l will have to pay more for my clothes?
Consumers should not have to pay more for clothing.
Many companies have been getting their garments made for very low prices in Australia and elsewhere and making high profits.
Higher wages for workers should be absorbed by a reduction in profit margins. There are many examples of clothes made by workers for $1 to $3 dollars and they retail for $50 to $100.
Clothes prices in Australia have increased over the last 5 years despite wages for homeworkers being less than half what they were 5 years ago.
- What is the homeworker industry Code of Practice?
The homeworker code of practice is a process negotiated and agreed to by the TCF union, manufacturers and retailers. It is a regulatory process designed to make the contracting chain transparent, and enable homeworkers to receive an agreed wage rate including loading for holidays. It will include a accreditation process for manufacturers, an agreement by retailers to use accredited manufacturers and a process to identify exploitation and fix it. It will also include a label system for consumers to identify ethically produced clothing.
- How will it be policed?
The TCF union will monitor the manufacturers for compliance and reaching homeworkers to inform them of their rights.
The detection of exploitation of workers and non compliance by contractors, manufacturers and retailers will depend upon record keeping and reporting at each level of the contracting chain. Education of homeworkers, manufacturers and consumers is the key component to it working effectively.
- Why are there so many homebased outworkers?
Over the last 10 years the numbers of homebased outworkers have significantly increased. Over this time the garment industry has become increasingly globalised. In Australia tariff reductions and increased monopolies by large retailers have contributed to the closure of factories and the shift to below award paid homeworking as a cheap option for the industry. Factories now advertise for machinists to work from home this means they reduce their overheads by not having a fulltime workforce and they also pay homeworkers much less than the award wage.
This means they can have 3 to 4 workers working for the price of one award paid worker.
- Why is the Fair Wear campaign necessary?
Retailers need to be encouraged to conduct their business more ethically and only a campaign such as Fair Wear can do this. It is important that more people in the community understand about the exploitation involved in the production of our clothes. More people will get involved in responding to this problem so that retailers get a clear message that consumers and the community in general do care.
Fair wear is a community response to a community problem.
Consumers have a right to know under what conditions the clothing we purchase are made. It is the responsibility of consumers to demand that companies that profit from the clothing industry do not use explioted labour.
- Is the Fair Wear Campaign about boycotts?
Fair Wear is about encouraging retailers and manufacturers to become responsible and ethical. It is about consumers having a choice and we will encourage consumers to choose companies acting responsibly. Fair Wear will also encourage share holders to take up this issue. We hope that we can encourage the positive examples.
To get to a point where companies begin to take the positive steps we will focus on particular companies to highlight the problem. It will depend on how companies respond.
- Why is the union important?
The union is the only organisation that makes sure workers receive their legal wages and conditions. The union helps to bring workers together and to improve their conditions. The union has a key role in making sure manufacturers comply with the award and the code of practice. The union is the best organisation to reach and assist homeworkers.
- Which ethnic groups are effected?
Why do they accept these conditions?
The majority of homeworkers are women from non English speaking backgrounds. Many Australian born women in cities and rural areas also do homework for low wages. Most often the ethnic groups involved are those of recently arrived immigrant and refugee groups. Homeworkers often work with other family members including children, because this is the only way they can get the work done in the time given. They work to survive for many they believe some work and some income is better than none.
- Don't homeworkers have a choice?
Homeworkers work at home because this is often the only work they can get. Some homeworkers are forced on to social security benefits because they don't earn enough to survive on their income alone. A large number of factories have closed leaving people no choice but to work from home. Factories say yes you can work if you get your own machine and do the work at home.
