Start Date
15-12-2020 3:00 PM
Description
Fast fashion is the process retailers use to quickly and efficiently move designs from the runway to stores. The process comes at great cost to the garment workers in the manufacturing facilities producing the clothes. Because the retailers want to offer the clothes at an affordable price to consumers, they ask for cheaper prices from their overseas manufacturing factories, which attempt to lower costs, often at the expense of the garment workers' safety. The dangers of this system are evident through the Rana Plaza collapse, which killed 1,132 people. Because garment workers are not directly employed by the retail companies, the courts ruled that the companies did not owe a duty of care towards the garment workers and were not liable for the tragedy. This proposal aims to demonstrate the potential increased liability brands should have through joint liability. Joint liability is the legal idea that two or more parties are held legally liable. In this case, both the retail companies and the subcontracted factories would legally owe a duty of care toward the garment workers. Increasing the liability of retail companies will improve the working conditions of garment workers.
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Using Joint Liability to Protect Garment Workers
Fast fashion is the process retailers use to quickly and efficiently move designs from the runway to stores. The process comes at great cost to the garment workers in the manufacturing facilities producing the clothes. Because the retailers want to offer the clothes at an affordable price to consumers, they ask for cheaper prices from their overseas manufacturing factories, which attempt to lower costs, often at the expense of the garment workers' safety. The dangers of this system are evident through the Rana Plaza collapse, which killed 1,132 people. Because garment workers are not directly employed by the retail companies, the courts ruled that the companies did not owe a duty of care towards the garment workers and were not liable for the tragedy. This proposal aims to demonstrate the potential increased liability brands should have through joint liability. Joint liability is the legal idea that two or more parties are held legally liable. In this case, both the retail companies and the subcontracted factories would legally owe a duty of care toward the garment workers. Increasing the liability of retail companies will improve the working conditions of garment workers.
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Mentor: Sona Gala