CATHOLIC school uniform suppliers and manufacturers will come under scrutiny from the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission (CJPC) in Brisbane over the next few months.
CJPC executive officer Peter Arndt said he would be checking with the Parents and Friends Federation to ensure all uniform suppliers to Catholic schools protected their workers’ rights.
He said the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission welcomed the Queensland Government’s plans announced late last month for a legislative crackdown on exploitation and intimidation of outworkers in the textile, clothing and footwear industries.
‘One of my first duties when I began work with the commission at the start of 2001 was to sign a code of practice which aimed to protect outworkers in such industries.’
Mr Arndt said the results of a statewide audit had shown that a voluntary code of practice supported by retailers, manufacturers, unions and community groups had not been enough to protect outworkers’ rights.
‘The legislative move follows that audit which indicated over 40 per cent of textile, clothing and footwear industry outworkers are underpaid by their employers.’
Mr Arndt said the new laws would put the responsibility for just working conditions on the fashion houses and retailers involved in manufacturing rather than on the worker.
