Freedom of Association

Freedom of association is the right of individuals to join or leave groups voluntarily, such as unions, and the right of a group to take collective actions pursuing the interests of its members. During COVID-19, factories persistently used the pandemic as an excuse to suppress organising efforts and suspend collective bargaining agreements. Suppression of trade unions' rights is prevalent across the industry, causing devastating impacts for garment workers. Without a collective voice and protection, workers face daily violations, including declining wages, precarious work, longer hours, forced overtime, and physical and verbal abuse in the workplace.