STITCH Resources: Integrating workers’ voices into business practices

Workers are at the heart of the garment industry, and their insights are key to meaningful change. STITCH has raised awareness about the need for HRDD and business practices to be informed by workers' experiences. To drive this forward, the partnership have developed and linked tools, research and trainings that empower workers and their representatives to inform responsible business conduct, ensuring that corporate actions align with real needs on the ground.

RESEARCH | Workers’ Observatory from Cividep India

The fieldwork and research by Cividep India uncover the difficult realities of poor working conditions in garment manufacturing, where a majority of workers are women. Workers' Observatory focuses on human rights in the workplace, especially in sectors like the readymade garment industry. Through stories and data visualisations, they show the challenges women workers face and stress the need for stronger protection of their rights.

RESEARCH | Mondiaal FNV’s study workers’ agency in Indian garment factories

The study by Mondiaal FNV titled The Right to Organise or the Right to Talk? dives into the role of Works Committees (WCs) in promoting Freedom of Association. WCs are a legally mandated structure aimed at addressing workplace concerns in Indian factories employing over 100 workers.

Resources on Multi-Company Collective Bargaining Agreements (MC-CBAs)

STITCH member CNV Internationaal developed learning materials on the topic of MC-CBAs:

  • Introduction of Social dialogue and multi-company collective bargaining agreements. What is social dialogue? What is collective bargaining agreement? Why is it necessary to develop multi-company collective bargaining agreements? What should be done to successfully negotiate and sign a multi-company collective bargaining agreement? These concepts and terms are explained in this animation video.

  • Forming a Task Force for MC-CBAs. To start a MC-CBA, form a task force with all participating companies. This group supports the upper-level union and guides the negotiation. This animation video shows how to build the task force and how it helps deliver a strong MC-CBA — key to better working conditions.

Story of Change

CASE STUDY | Gender-disaggregated data guidance

Building on the Gender Data Guidance jointly developed by ETI and other key partners in the industry (BSR, Sedex, Fair Wear Foundation, Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garments and Textiles), with support from STITCH, this case study focuses on how ETI continued to influence the enabling environment and support the integration of the gender data indicators into existing tools by other industry stakeholders. 

CASE STUDY | The Story of Melati

This is the story of a young garment worker in Indonesia who, supported by her local trade union, fought against sexual harassment in the workplace.

  • Follow this storytelling presentation to understand the impact of collective action in addressing gender-based violence.

  • Read more on this case and how collective action helps advance Sustainable Development Goal 8 in this article

More STITCH resources will be published here in Q3–Q4 2025. Stay tuned!