Oxfam has congratulated Lorna Jane for being the first brand in the history of its What She Makes campaign to pay a living wage to all garment workers at their one apparel factory.
The human rights organisation has been actively engaging with Lorna Jane for over two years, urging the brand to increase transparency and report on their commitment to payment of a living wage as part of the What She Makes campaign which has been active for over seven years.
Lorna Jane is the first brand involved in the campaign to complete this wage gap analysis, implement back pay, and achieve payment of a living wage to all workers.
With a relatively small supply chain consisting of just one apparel factory in China, Lorna Jane has a high level of control over conditions within the factory.
Nayeem Emran, Oxfam Australia’s Economic Justice Strategic Lead, praised Lorna Jane for its progress and highlighted the significance of this milestone for the campaign.
“Over the past two years, since being added to Oxfam’s Company Tracker, Lorna Jane has shown a genuine commitment to ensuring living wages for its workers,” said Mr Emran.
“We commend Lorna Jane for leading the way and showing that paying a living wage is not only possible but essential. Their commitment marks a significant milestone, and we encourage other brands to follow suit. Brands that fail to ensure the payment of a living wage are perpetuating a system that keeps women in poverty,” he said.
“At Lorna Jane, our vision is to empower women to transform the world. As Active Citizens, we believe in the inherent dignity of all work and are committed to ensuring that every person in our supply chain is treated with respect, empowered through fair employment practices, and supported by living wages,” said Lorna Jane CEO, Anna Fowler.
Oxfam Australia’s What She Makes campaign works with Australian brands to ensure that the women who make their clothes are empowered to live healthy lives through the payment of a living wage. If brands deliver on their commitments, this means that workers will be paid enough to cover basic essentials for their families, such as food, housing, healthcare, clothing, transport, education, and even some savings for emergencies.
However, despite pressure from Oxfam and its supporters, many Australian and International brands have yet to make a public commitment to conduct a ‘wage gap analysis,’ which is the current required step on the journey to ensuring living wages. We urge Best&Less, Big W, H&M, Jeanswest, Kmart, Modibodi, Target, Uniqlo and Zara to work with their factories to determine the gap between the wages currently paid and a living wage, then bridge that gap.
Check out Oxfam’s Company Tracker to see how other brands are progressing.
For interviews with Oxfam spokespeople, please contact Lucy Brown at lucyb@oxfam.org.au or 0478 190 099.
For interviews with Lorna Jane spokespeople, please contact Nicole Bennet at nicole.bennett@lornajane.com.au or 0408 438 578
