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Dignity factory workers producing shirts for overseas clients, in Accra, Ghana

Cooling Before It Got Cool: Case Studies in Heat Adaptation in Southeast Asian Factories

Heat Adaptation in Apparel Factories

A new examination of how apparel factories are adapting to extreme heat while investing in cooling, automation, and climate resilience strategies.

A thermal image of a worker at a station in a garment factory, showing the high heat levels through brighter orange colors at their workstation.
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The Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-based Violence and Harassment

Has It Worked?

This is GLI’s official final assessment of the Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at a South Indian apparel factory that could be a model for other factories around the world. 

Large room of garment factory workers
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Global Labor Institute's Climate-Labor Work

GLI Climate-Labor Research

See all of our analyses on the intersection of labor rights and climate change.

GLI climate workers webinar
Read GLI's Climate-Labor Work

Measuring Supply Chain Due Diligence

Labor Outcomes Metrics

Read about the Global Labor Institute's new quantitative metrics that measure labor outcomes—actual impacts for workers.

Workers in Bangladesh
Read more about Measuring Supply Chain Due Diligence

Latest Research and Events

2025 Global Labor Institute Conference 'More TLC? Trade-Labor Connections in the New Global Order' Recap

Please enjoy our recap from our 4 December GLI conference, 'More TLC? Trade-Labor Connections in the New Global Order'
People attend and watch a panel discussion at the 2025 GLI Conference in New York City
2025 Global Labor Institute Conference 'More TLC? Trade-Labor Connections in the New Global Order' Recap

Warming to the Idea? Labor Governance and Extreme Heat in Apparel Production

This policy brief builds upon past GLI research and our recent report co-produced with the IFC and the ILO's Better Work program. It presents new findings on the impacts of extreme heat and the adaptation responses from employers, workers, their governments and buyers in the global apparel and footwear industry.
Cambodian workers are seen in a local footwear manufacturing plant, with containers of materials in multiple colors sitting in front of workers wearing bandanas and many wearing masks as well.
Warming to the Idea? Labor Governance and Extreme Heat in Apparel Production

Assessment of a Unique Agreement to End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in Apparel Factories

The Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-based Violence and Harassment (GBVH) has been successful in empowering women to identify and combat gender-based violence in the workplace, largely due to a strong female-led union and a productive labor-management relationship, according to a recent assessment by Cornell’s Global Labor Institute.
Large room of garment factory workers
Assessment of a Unique Agreement to End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment in Apparel Factories

The Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-based Violence and Harassment

This is GLI’s official final assessment of the Dindigul Agreement  to End Gender-Based Violence and Harassment  at a South Indian apparel factory that could be a model for other factories around the world.
Women working in a factory
The Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-based Violence and Harassment

GLI and the IFC-ILO: The Heat is On: How heat stress impacts the apparel industry, jobs, and worker health

This report, co-produced by GLI and the International Finance Corporation, with input from the International Labour Organization’s Better Work team, build upon past GLI research and examines the impacts of heat stress and flooding on the apparel industry.
The fron page of "The Heat is On" report. A woman stands with a yellow fabric over her head, and the title "The Heat is On: How heat stress impacts the apparel industry, jobs, and worker health" is on a dark maroon background. The logos of Cornell University, the Global Labor Institue, and the Facility for Investment Climate Advisory Services sit on the bottom of the page on a white background.
GLI and the IFC-ILO: The Heat is On: How heat stress impacts the apparel industry, jobs, and worker health

December 4 GLI Conference: More TLC? Trade-Labor Connections in the New Global Order

Please join us for GLI’s day-long 2025 conference, where we will focus on the state of labor standards and work in the new era of global trade.
Garment workers in an Indonesian factory
December 4 GLI Conference: More TLC? Trade-Labor Connections in the New Global Order

In The News

Media Mentions

Advancing adaptation in Southeast Asia

McKinsey & Company
A 2026 report from ILR’s Global Labor Institute, “Cooling Before It Got Cool: Case Studies in Heat Adaptation in Southeast Asian Factories,” is cited in this article about climate change in Southeast Asia.
Advancing adaptation in Southeast Asia

What Fashion Needs to Know About Climate Tipping Points

Vogue
Research from ILR’s Global Labor Institute says that without basic climate adaptation measures, extreme heat and humidity could significantly disrupt garment production, and cost key manufacturing countries several percentage points of GDP.
What Fashion Needs to Know About Climate Tipping Points

AAFA Releases Heat Stress Guidance to Protect Garment Workers

Yahoo News
Binding agreements, near-term collection of heat-stress data and collaboration over enforcement could make new heat stress guidance from the American Apparel & Footwear Association even more effective at helping garment industry workers cope with heat, says Jason Judd, executive director of ILR’s Global Labor Institute. [Syndicated from Sourcing Journal]
AAFA Releases Heat Stress Guidance to Protect Garment Workers

Progress Over Perfection: Lessons From Garment Factories Fighting Heat Stress

Yahoo News
“The factories that have invested proactively are seeing an ROI beyond straight-up ‘we’re more productive,’” said Sarah Krasley, visiting fellow at ILR’s Global Labor Institute, sharing observations from a recent research trip to Cambodia and Vietnam of garment industry cooling methods for hot weather. [Syndicated from Sourcing Journal]
Progress Over Perfection: Lessons From Garment Factories Fighting Heat Stress

Nike Is Moving Jobs to Low-Wage Regions of Indonesia

Pro Publica
Jason Judd, executive director of ILR’s Global Labor Institute, criticizes Nike’s living wage pledge for falling short on achieving a living wage for workers.
Nike Is Moving Jobs to Low-Wage Regions of Indonesia

2026 Will Be ‘Stress Test’ Year for Garment Worker Rights

Yahoo News
Sarosh Kuruvilla, ILR professor and academic director of the Global Labor Institute, comments on how recent increases in U.S. tariffs have affected progress in improving labor rights for workers. [Syndicated from Sourcing Journal]
2026 Will Be ‘Stress Test’ Year for Garment Worker Rights