Weekly news
Weekly news: 18 October 2026
By Labour Lens (edited)
Bangladesh
Garment workers in Dhaka and Gazipur blocked highways on 15 October, the fourth day of protests over wages, the Press Trust of India reported. They want the minimum wage raised from Tk12,500 to Tk30,000 a month, according to The Business Standard. The same day, the Department of Labour asked for nominations to a new garment wage board, ahead of a wage review due by December.
Sources theprint.in, tbsnews.net
This week's news
Australia
Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans said on 15 October the government's planned modern slavery laws don't go far enough, according to CathNews. He called for a legal duty on large businesses and the federal government to identify and address forced labour risks. He said Australia imports an estimated A$25 billion (US$17.4 billion) of goods a year at risk of being made with forced labour.
Source cathnews.com
Cambodia
Unions say the US$2 rise in the 2027 garment minimum wage won't keep pace with inflation, the Cambodia Daily reported on 15 October. Prime Minister Hun Manet announced the US$212 monthly minimum, up from US$210, on 30 September, Xinhua reported. Unions had asked for US$250.66 and say workers need at least US$6.51 more a month to match the IMF's 3.1% inflation forecast.
Sources cambodiadaily.com, thestar.com.my
United States
The Supreme Court refused to hear seafood company Rubicon Resources' appeal in seven Cambodian villagers' forced labour lawsuit, SeafoodSource reported on 14 October. The villagers allege they were trafficked into Thailand and forced to produce shrimp for the US market. They accuse Rubicon, an affiliate and two Thai firms of knowingly profiting from it.
Source seafoodsource.com
South Africa
Union federation Cosatu backed a call for a government ban on Shein and Temu at its Johannesburg congress, Daily Maverick reported on 15 October. Sactwu president Susan Khumalo, whose clothing workers' union proposed the ban, said the platforms cause job losses and push down wages and working conditions. Cosatu cited a 2025 study that put up to 34,000 local jobs at risk by 2030.
Source dailymaverick.co.za
Changes on Labour Lens
No grades changed because of this week's news. We changed 166 grades during the week because of new grading rules and new research.
Ellesse
Lacks transparency to Harm on record on 16 October, then back on 22 October. Owner Pentland Brands' 2025 modern slavery report says foreign workers at a Taiwan fabric mill group may have paid fees for their jobs, but it doesn't say which of its brands the mill supplied.
On Labour Lens Ellesse
Omega, Prada, Smeg, Sealy and 60 other brands moved from Good to On Track on 16 October. Good now needs them to show where their materials and parts are made, since a "Made in" label can cover only the last stage.
On Labour Lens Grading: Made in
Adidas, Cotton On, IKEA and 58 other brands moved from Harm on record to Lacks transparency on 14 October. Dynafit went to On Track, then back to Harm on record on 22 October over Fair Wear's 2023 wage findings at its suppliers. Harm on record now needs a serious, confirmed problem from the last five years that the company hasn't put right.
On Labour Lens Grading: Harm on record
Shein and Temu
We now check each brand we research, along with its owners and suppliers, against the full UFLPA Entity List of 187 companies and groups whose goods the US presumes are made with forced labour. For seven industries, such as clothing, we also check the US Labor Department's full 2024 list of 527 goods and countries it has reason to believe are made with child or forced labour.
Since 14 October, our grades are Good, On Track, Lacks transparency and Harm on record.
On Labour Lens How grading works
Coming up
Baptist World Aid says its new Ethical Fashion Guide launches on 20 October. We'll re-check the brands it covers.
Source baptistworldaid.org.au