Since the military junta took power in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, it has continued to kill, arrest, and displace thousands of politicians, activists, and workers in Myanmar. These human rights violations have been casting a shadow over the global fashion industry.
Before the coup, the clothing industry employed 700,000 people and was Myanmar’s fastest-growing sector, accounting for 28 percent of all exports. Since then hundreds of thousands of workers have already lost their jobs, reveals Global Union IndustriALL.
The union has been urging fashion brands to stop sourcing their apparel from Myanmar suppliers who have been proven exploiters of workers’ rights.
Big fashion companies have been hearing IndustriALL’s calls and have withdrawn from the country, such as H&M’s recent decision to phase out its use of Myanmar suppliers following reports of human rights abuses within its garment factories. Other fashion giants including Primark, Marks & Spencer, and Zara owner Inditex have also outlined their strategies for a responsible exit from the territory.
H&M didn’t give a timeframe for its withdrawal but said it would follow the “responsible exit framework” developed by IndustriALL. Primark stopped placing new orders in October 2022 and expects its final orders from the country to ship before the end of the year.
In March 2023, Marks & Spencer succeeded in a “responsible exit” from Myanmar after findings of severe human rights and labor risks in the garment sector. An M&S spokesperson told Sustainability Beat that the brand did stop sourcing from Myanmar in this time frame
Zara owner Inditex also announced the company is set to phase out its suppliers in Myanmar after it was reported that five garment workers and three union activists in the region faced trial after being arrested for protesting for a higher salary.
To make a responsible exit the fashion giant said in an online statement it “maintains proactive open communication channels in the country with different stakeholders including worker representatives, civil society and institutional organizations” as part of its reinforced due diligence process.
The exodus of fast fashion from Myanmar was a death knell for its apparel industry
