Ethical Clothing Australia Week Worker Stories: Outworker
Ethical Clothing Australia is committed to centring the voices and experiences of workers. For this Ethical Clothing Australia Week 2024, we are proud to be sharing stories from outworkers in their own words.
”Since the Union's involvement, I’ve noticed that the employer has become less oppressive towards the workers.
Outworker
I came from Vietnam.
I have been in the industry for more than 20 years.
When I first came to Australia in 1987 I was employed by a clothing company to work as an in-house machinist. In 1995 I resigned and became an outworker.
I specialised in school uniforms.
It depends on our family schedule. Sometimes, my wife and I start working at 8 a.m. and finish by 3 p.m., allowing me to pick up the children from school and her to prepare dinner. On other days, we might begin working in the afternoon and continue into the evening.
I know that unions protect workers’ rights, and I fully support their presence. When I worked at the clothing company, the union regularly visited us and spoke with both employees and the employer.
After I began working from home as an outworker, the union continued to visit my home to discuss matters with me. I always welcomed them warmly. Recently, they invited me to their National Zoom Meetings where I could connect with other outworkers across Australia.
I am puzzled by the fear some employers have of unions. If they operate within the law, there is nothing to fear. Since the union’s involvement, I’ve noticed that the employer has become less oppressive towards the workers.
This job provides me with the flexibility to manage my household responsibilities and care for my children. It is also thanks to this work that I have been able to build my home and establish my life.
Who is an outworker?
An outworkers is an individual who manufactures clothing from their home or non-conventional workplace. These highly skilled workers are often women from migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds.
Despite Australia’s workplace laws, these workers remain susceptible to exploitation, ranging from minor breaches to instances of modern slavery. This vulnerability stems from factors such as complex supply chains, isolated working conditions, limited awareness of rights, and barriers to seeking support.
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Union, as part of the service level agreement (SLA) with Ethical Clothing Australia, delivers an Outworker Outreach Program. Many of the Outworker Outreach Officers from the TCF Union have lived experience as garment workers and are often from similar cultural and language backgrounds. These Officers are dedicated to engaging outworkers and building relationships and trust, so the worker knows they have someone to turn if workplace issues arise.
