Victoria gives a boost to ethical textile manufacturing

The Victorian government is investing $4 million into improving worker safety and transparency in the state’s textile manufacturing industry.

The funding will support the group Ethical Clothing Australia, which provides accreditation to Victoria’s textile, clothing and footwear manufacturers to ensure compliance with state standards, including fair pay for workers as well as providing safe working conditions.

The accreditation procedures audits businesses’ manufacturing processes from design to dispatch.

The funds will be used to ensure ECA can monitor more businesses, as well as provide new educational materials to help improve workplace safety.

“By backing Ethical Clothing Australia, we’re supporting fair and safer conditions for our textile industry and support workers,” Victorian Minister for Industry and Innovation Ben Carroll says.

Ethical Clothing Australia national manager Rachel Reilly adds, “This funding boost will not only enable ECA to continue to expand the accreditation program in Victoria to protect, uphold and safeguard the rights of Victorian garment workers, but will provide the opportunity to elevate and amplify the voices of business owners, particularly women, of a female dominated industry.”

Victoria’s fashion and textile industry generates around $8.2 billion and year and accounts for nearly 150,000 jobs in the state.