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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

Live Debate: Repeat, Regain or Re-negotiate? The post-COVID future of global apparel

Cornell NCP hosts a live virtual debate on Tuesday, October 12 on NCP's new paper on the future of the apparel industry: 'Repeat, Regain or Re-negotiate?' The analyses track apparel industry concentration, climate crisis impacts, automation, shifting sourcing patterns and public-vs-private regulation for three post-pandemic scenarios.
Women in India
Live Debate: Repeat, Regain or Re-negotiate? The post-COVID future of global apparel

Social Dialogue in the 21st Century Project Reports

The Social Dialogue in the 21st Century Project published ten country reports - plus the NCP Synthesis Report - on obstacles to social dialogue in the global garment supply chain.
World map with Mexico, Honduras, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia highlighted in red.
Social Dialogue in the 21st Century Project Reports

NCP Workshops and Training Programs

NCP launches live workshops and training programs for various stakeholders in the sustainability eco-system regarding labor standards in global supply chains. These workshops and courses are relevant to global corporations, auditing firms, NGOs, consulting companies, labor unions, and others.
Bolts of colorful fabric rolled and piled together
NCP Workshops and Training Programs

Research on “Better Work” Cambodia

The Better Work program offers an innovative alternative to improving working conditions in developing country apparel factories
Missing alt
Research on “Better Work” Cambodia

Draft Working Paper (ILO/GLI) "Beneath the surface: Review of literature and initiatives for identification of forced labour in fishing" (2020)

This Working Paper drafted with support from ILO Fundamentals identifies and brings together what is already known about obstacles to identifying fishers in forced labour and key knowledge gaps in this regard.
Philippine fisherman surrounded by buoys
Draft Working Paper (ILO/GLI) "Beneath the surface: Review of literature and initiatives for identification of forced labour in fishing" (2020)

Social Sustainability in Global Supply Chains: An Empirical Investigation of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

In this article, we seek empirical answers to two research questions: a) What are the typical violations of FOA and CB rights in global supply chains that must be corrected for workers to exercise their voice?
Dignity factory workers producing shirts for overseas clients, in Accra, Ghana
Social Sustainability in Global Supply Chains: An Empirical Investigation of Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

In The News

Media Mentions

Nike says its factory workers earn nearly double the minimum wage. At this Cambodian factory, 1% made that much.

Pro Publica
“Companies have enormous leeway in what they report. It’s enormously difficult to compare within firms across years. Between firms, impossible. Companies are able to pick and choose how they tell their story,” says Jason Judd, executive director of the Global Labor Institute.
Nike says its factory workers earn nearly double the minimum wage. At this Cambodian factory, 1% made that much.

Is It Time For Fashion To Enter Its Heat Pump Era?

Forbes
This piece references new research published by the Global Labor Institute.
Is It Time For Fashion To Enter Its Heat Pump Era?

Cornell researchers call for annual review of Bangladesh RMG wages

The Business Standard
"There is a clear need and room — both political and economic — for an annual wage-setting process in Bangladesh. It's long overdue," says Jason Judd, executive director of ILR's Global Labor Institute.
Cornell researchers call for annual review of Bangladesh RMG wages

Review RMG workers' wages annually, not every five years

The Daily Star
This piece summarizes a study conducted by Jason Judd and ILR's Global Labor Institute that found that, given current inflation rates, garment workers in Bangladesh paid the minimum wage are losing income year after year.
Review RMG workers' wages annually, not every five years

The Policy Ask with Jason Judd: “The UK’s Modern Slavery Act is not fit for purpose”

The New Statesman
Q&A featuring Jason Judd, the executive director of the Cornell’s Global Labor Institute, discussing international workers' rights, President Lula, and being "less fox, more hedgehog."
The Policy Ask with Jason Judd: “The UK’s Modern Slavery Act is not fit for purpose”