Designers urged to be ethical

SYDNEY: Australian textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses are at the centre of a $4 million federal government campaign to protect outworkers.

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Julia Gillard announced a new program to develop and promote the Homeworkers' Code of Practice and the 'No Sweat Shop' label yesterday (May 02).

The Rudd Government's Homeworkers' Code of Practice Program is designed to ensure that minimum legal wages and working standards art met for workers in the TCF industry. It is estimated there are 300,000 outworkers in Australia, with many earning less than $4 an hour and working up to seven days a week.

Gillard said the Federal Government would work with individual states and territories to introduce a legislative safety-net and relevant award conditions for homeworkers.

The announcement comes as the spring/summer 2008 instalment of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) winds down. Prominent designer Lisa Ho – who showcased her collection at RAFW on Tuesday – made headlines late last year for failing to sign up to the code of practice. Campaigners, who claimed the designer did not respond to several letters relating to their concerns and urged consumers to boycott the label.