News: Research group coming to Japan, Press conference and Event
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Last year, labor NGO, Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM) based inHong Kong conducted the research project about manufacturing contract companies of UNIQLO (Pacific Textiles Holding Ltd and Luenthai Holding Ltd ) in China by interviewing labors and investigating the factories. Then they released the report this January.
Representatives of SACOM will be coming to Japan and will hold a press conference and event to raise public awareness about the factories of UNIQLO.
Information about the press conference
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The press conference purposes below.
*to inform Japanese consumers about the grave violations of labor regulation occurring within contracted factories of UNIQLO in China.
*to urge UNIQLO to implement comprehensive measurements.
*to prompt other companies to apply comprehensive measurements .
Contents
The Hong Kong-based labor Non-Governmental-Organization “SACOM” has researched two large Chinese-based garment contract factories of UNIQLO (Pacific Textiles Holding Ltd and Luenthai Holding Ltd.) by sending researchers to carry out an in-depth investigation of the factory’s situation. Following SACOM’s project, Human Rights Now visited China and interviewed labors as a followup research.
Revealed situations are mainly below.
1. Long working hours and low basic salary
2. High risk and non-safety work environment
(Alarming risks are informed as following: extraordinary high temperature of factory floor, flooding water on the floor, high risk facilities, abnormal ventilation system, unbearable smell, high risk for health problem by harmful chemicals, the risk of fire and electrical shock by short-circuit, high pressure on labors)
3. Strict management and punishment system for labors
4. dysfunctional labor union in the factories
Press conference part1
Date: 15 January (THU) 13:00 PM~
Place: Minister of health press conference Center
(Kousei roudou kisya kaikan)
Kaikennjyou 9F Central Gov’t Bldg. No.5
1-2-2 Kasumigaseki Chiyoda-ku
Press conference part2
Date: 16 January (FRI) 15:30 PM~
Place: The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan / FCCJ
Yurakucho Denki North Building 20F
Yurakucho 1-7-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-0006
Speaker
From SACOM 1 speaker (or 2)
Human Rights Now 1 speaker (or 2)
*We may accept private interviews. Please contact info@hrn.or.jp
Information of the event
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Human Rights Now and SACOM will hold the event in relation to the research with corporation of Asia Pacific Reference Center (PARC). This event is open to anybody so please join us.
(English – Japanese Consecutive interpretation will be provided)
◆Fast fashion －Cost of “cheapness”.
Fast fashion is popular among men and women of all ages. The popularity has gathered strength in Japan and the world wide. Rich assortment, casual design, and affordable price- these are the key elements of the great demand. However, these benefits of the consumer have a negative side. Do you know about that?
The NGOs in Japan, Hong Kong, and China launched an international campaign together for demanding the improvement of work environments and safeguard for human rights for workers who deal with garment factories in Asian countries. Research from this campaign revealed that we have many concerns about these labor conditions including low salary, and the problem of long hour working, work safety.
Ms. Kazuko Ito (Human Rights Now, Japan) and Ms. Alex (SACOM Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour, Hong Kong) who summarize the report will shed light on the other side of fast fashion.
Date: 17January (SAT) 19;00 PM~21:00PM (open 18:30PM)
Place: Bunkyo Gender equality Center, Research room A
(Bukyo-ku dannjyo byodo center kensyu shitu A)
Access: Tokyo metro [Kasuga]or[Korakuen]station 10minutes on foot
Map: https://www.bunkyo-danjo.jp/access.aspx
Admission fee: 500yen
NO ADMISSION IS REQUIRED
For further information:
Email to Asia pacific reference center（office@parc-jp.org ）
OR Human Rights Now（info@hrn.or.jp）
This project launched to demand improvement of work environments and safeguard the human rights of workers who deal with garment factories in Asian countries together the three NGOs:SACOM, Hong Kong; Labour Action China (LAC), Chine; Human Rights Now, Japan.