The French Republic

Jasser Tamayo
Committee: UNHRC
Topic: Human Rights in the Textile Industry

The French Republic, known for its fashion industry, has been facing increasing concerns
regarding the human rights violations in its textile industry. The textile industry brings lots of jobs
to the French families proven by this quote “ The textile industry currently represents 2% of the
added value of French manufacturing industry and employs 103,000 people”(INSEE) France's
economy is hand in hand with the textile industry proven by this quote in an article “Revenue in
the Apparel market amounts to US$40.67bn in 2023. The market is expected to grow annually
by 1.04% (CAGR 2023-2027).”(Apparel) However, despite its economic importance, the textile
industry in France is plagued by numerous human rights issues, including low wages, poor
working conditions, and limited labor rights.

One of the main issues in the French textile industry is the low wages paid to workers, which
often fall below the minimum wage. According to a report by the Clean Clothes Campaign,
"many workers in the French textile industry are paid less than the minimum wage, and are
forced to work long hours to make ends meet" (Clean Clothes Campaign, 2022). This not only
violates workers' rights to fair wages but also perpetuates a cycle of poverty.

Moreover, the working conditions in the French textile industry are often unsafe and unhealthy.
Workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals and suffer from long-term health problems, such
as respiratory diseases, skin disorders, and cancer. In an interview with The Guardian, a former
textile worker in France stated, "I worked with toxic chemicals without any protective gear, and I
know many workers who have died from lung cancer" (The Guardian, 2022). This highlights the
urgent need for improved working conditions and the protection of workers' health.

Additionally, workers in the French textile industry face limited labor rights, including the right to
unionize and bargain collectively. The Clean Clothes Campaign report states that "many
employers in the French textile industry do not respect workers' rights to organize and
collectively bargain, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation and abuse" (Clean Clothes
Campaign, 2022). This undermines workers' ability to improve their working conditions and
secure fair wages.
Having established these statements, the human rights violations in the textile industry in
France are unacceptable and require immediate action by the French government and
international organizations. The government should enforce labor laws and regulations to
protect workers' rights to fair wages, safe working conditions, and the ability to unionize. The
international community should also take steps to hold French textile companies accountable for
their human rights violations and promote ethical practices in the global textile industry.

Works Cited:
● https://www.statista.com/outlook/cmo/apparel/france#:~:text=Revenue%20in%20the%20
Apparel%20market,(CAGR%202023-2027).
● https://www.insee.fr/en/statistiques/3733147#:~:text=The%20textile%20industry%20curr
ently%20represents,more%20than%20half%20its%20production.
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● Clean Clothes Campaign. (2022). The Dark Side of Fashion: The French Textile Industry.
https://cleanclothes.org/news/2022/the-dark-side-of-fashion-the-french-textile-industry
● The Guardian. (2022). 'We are treated like machines': France's exploited textile workers.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/27/france-exploited-textile-workers