Garments / textile

In the early 1990s, Arisa became an active member of the newly established Clean Clothes Campaign, which is dedicated to the rights of mostly female employees in the clothing industry. Since then Arisa has, often in cooperation with Dutch and Indian organizations, issued various reports on abuses in the clothing and textile sector. Among others, a series of reports on compulsory and forced labor and child labor in spinning mills in Tamil Nadu. The partnerships with Indian organizations and research have contributed to the agenda of child labor and tied labor in politics and clothing brands. As a party to the Covenant on Sustainable Clothing and Textiles, Arisa also works together with Dutch clothing brands on structural improvements in their supply chains of clothing and textiles.

Leather

Since April 2020, Arisa has been working within a consortium of seven civil society organizations from the Netherlands, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Germany, and Austria on the three-year Together for Decent Leather programme. The consortium aims to improve working conditions and reduce labor rights violations in leather product manufacturing centers in South Asia, particularly in the Vellore and Chennai districts of Tamil Nadu, India, the Karachi region of Pakistan, and the Dhaka region. in Bangladesh. We expect that companies step up their commitment to fulfill their human rights due diligence obligations. We expect governments to put safeguards and regulations in place to improve compliance with international labor standards. Click here for more information about Together for Decent Leather.

The Together for Decent Leather programme is co-funded by the European Union

Natural stone

Since 2005, Arisa has been researching working conditions in the Indian granite production and chains of international companies that import granite from South Asia. The extraction of natural stone, such as sandstone, granite and slate often occurs under poor conditions. Child labor, too low wages, debt slavery and unsafe and unhealthy working conditions are common. Arisa informs companies, politicians and governments about these abuses and addresses them to the responsibilities they have to deal with these abuses. In addition to research, Arisa is also involved in the creation of child labor free zones in and around natural stone production in South Asia. Working together with companies and local organizations on improving working conditions and preventing child labor.

Seeds

Since 1994, Arisa has focused on working conditions in the seed sector in India. Many large seed companies produce vegetable and cotton seeds in India. The studies commissioned by Arisa indicate that children are still being used in the production of seeds and women are paid under the statutory minimum wage. Arisa raises these issues with companies, politicians and governments and insists on improvements in working conditions in seed production.