EU sustainability laws pressure garment makers like Zara, Nike, H&M

European Union regulations now hold retailers selling within the bloc, including companies like Inditex, H&M, and Nike, legally accountable for the working conditions of their suppliers.

Workers in major garment manufacturing hubs such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Pakistan are increasingly facing extreme heat due to rising global temperatures driven by climate change, according to a report released. The issue requires multinational retailers and brands to step up and address these conditions.

European Union regulations now hold retailers selling within the bloc, including companies like Inditex, H&M, and Nike, legally accountable for the working conditions of their suppliers. These regulations are compelling them to help finance improvements, such as cooling systems, in the factories they source from.

Research by Cornell University’s Global Labour Institute revealed that cities like Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, and Karachi experienced a 42 per cent increase in days with ‘wet-bulb’ temperatures above 30.5 degrees Celsius during 2020-2024 compared to 2005-2009. This metric, which combines air temperature and humidity, indicates conditions where the International Labor Organisation recommends equal amounts of rest and work to ensure workers’ safety.

The report highlighted that only a few retailers, such as Nike, Levi’s, and VF Corp, have implemented specific protocols to protect workers from heat-related risks within their supplier codes of conduct.

The report also urged brands to support higher wages and health protections to help workers cope with heat-induced absences. Research by Schroders and the Global Labor Institute previously estimated that extreme heat and flooding could result in a loss of $65 billion in apparel export earnings for Bangladesh, Cambodia, Pakistan, and Vietnam by 2030.