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Head of UNI Commerce, Alke Boessiger was heavily featured in Guardian Sustainable Business article "How to achieve fair wages in the fashion industry - we ask the experts".

Speaking to the Guardian, Boessiger said, "Brands must take responsibility for ensuring the garment workers making their products – whether in Bangladesh, Cambodia, China or elsewhere – receive a living wage. Fair pricing is key to a living wage and brands must have the courage to change their profit model. Only when brands pay their suppliers fairly will those suppliers and factory owners be in a position to pay their workers a decent wage."

"Unions have a major role to play by putting pressure on brands to deliver on fair wages all along their supply chains, including in garment factories. Factory workers must be allowed to form unions so that they can negotiate living wages under a collective bargaining agreement."

"The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, brokered by UNI Global Union and its sister global union, IndustriALL shows that it is possible to change how brands operate along the supply chain with positive effects on workers’ lives."

See the full article here: http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainable-fashion-blog...

"The Accord’s focus is building safety in response to the Rana Plaza tragedy but it includes provision for fair prices as well as worker participation. Unions in Bangladesh are beginning to negotiate wages and so far five new collective bargaining agreements have been finalised. The introduction of an increased minimum wage in Bangladesh earlier this year has benefited factory workers, except where it’s been offset by increased housing costs and other charges."

"Worldwide, consumers have become made more aware of the human cost of the garment industry because of Rana Plaza and brands have been forced to act on safety. Fairer pricing, a living wage and more power for workers to negotiate through union representation are the next steps for creating a responsible, sustainable garment industry not only in Bangladesh but globally."