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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

'Stopping Forced Labor' eCornell Webinar: Jason Judd, Samira Rafaela and Kelly Fay Rodríguez on Global Forced Labor Regulations

Join Executive Director Jason Judd, GLI Visiting Fellow Samira Rafaela and Former Special Representative for International Labor Affairs Kelly Fay Rodríguez on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 1pm EDT for a keynote presentation on forced labor regulations around the world.
Women working in a field
'Stopping Forced Labor' eCornell Webinar: Jason Judd, Samira Rafaela and Kelly Fay Rodríguez on Global Forced Labor Regulations

Sourcing Journal: 'The EU Omnibus is Here. Where Does It Leave Supply Chain Due Diligence?'

Visiting Fellow Samira Rafaela, quoted in the article: "I hope the European Parliament rejects the omnibus proposal and stands firm in defending the original CSDDD and CSRD. The omnibus proposal has not only weakened the results of democratic negotiations but also undermined the credibility of EU decision-making."
Sourcing Journal Logo
Sourcing Journal: 'The EU Omnibus is Here. Where Does It Leave Supply Chain Due Diligence?'

New EU Law Should Catalyze Business Efforts to Tackle Forced Labor

In collaboration with Cornell GLI and Human Rights Watch, this article highlights why companies should embrace the EU Force Labor Regulation and why taking action now is a strategic advantage.
The European Union flag flies in front of a blue sky. The flag is a deep blue, with gold stars representing each of the member nations of the European Union. It is attached to a flag pole.
New EU Law Should Catalyze Business Efforts to Tackle Forced Labor

Waiting Game: Minimum wage-setting in Bangladesh's apparel industry

This policy brief aimed at policymakers, unions, brands and employers discusses Bangladesh's minimum wage setting system, looking at its impact on workers and Bangladesh's global competitiveness.
Bangladesh Garment Workers
Waiting Game: Minimum wage-setting in Bangladesh's apparel industry

ILR Review: 'Between Legitimacy and Cost: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights in Global Supply Chains'

In 'Between Legitimacy and Cost,' Sarosh Kuruvilla, Chunyun Li and Jinsun Bae identify the ways supplier factories strategically comply with freedom of association and collective bargaining requirements by analyzing data from factories in the ILO’s Better Work program between 2015-2021.
The cover of the ILR Review
ILR Review: 'Between Legitimacy and Cost: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights in Global Supply Chains'

Hot Air: How will fashion adapt to accelerating climate change?

This report looks at 23 global apparel production centers and analyzes how heat and flooding have already changed and gotten worse over the past two decades, and recommends changes and adaptations for the already-supercharged climate.
Birds' eye view of people crossing in a crosswalk.
Hot Air: How will fashion adapt to accelerating climate change?

In The News

Media Mentions

Bangladesh Sourcing Report Challenges Cheap Hub Narrative

Sustainable Business Magazine
The report “Higher Ground? Report 1: Fashion’s Climate Breakdown and Its Effect for Workers,” which was co-published by ILR’s Global Labor Institute, is referenced in this article about various challenges and solutions for the Bangladesh garment industry.
Bangladesh Sourcing Report Challenges Cheap Hub Narrative

Knitting Industry

A report from the Global Labor Institute, “Higher Ground? Report 1: Fashion’s Climate Breakdown and Its Effect for Workers,” is referenced in this article, which warns that without climate adaptation efforts, Bangladesh’s apparel export earnings could be around 22% lower by 2030 and 68% lower by 2050.
Knitting Industry

Top fashion brands have a supply chain battle against extreme India heat

Economic Times
A report co-created by ILR’s Global Labor Institute, “The Heat is On: How heat stress impacts the apparel industry, jobs, and worker health,” is referenced in this article about problems and solutions related to high temperatures in the garment manufacturing workplace. [Syndicated from Bloomberg]
Top fashion brands have a supply chain battle against extreme India heat

Gap Inc. Expands Human Rights And Gender Equality Efforts

Textile Insights
A report, “The Dindigul Agreement to End Gender-based Violence and Harassment Has It Worked?”, by Sarosh Kuruvilla, ILR professor and academic director of the Global Labor Institute, is referenced in this article.
Gap Inc. Expands Human Rights And Gender Equality Efforts

How Fashion Manufacturers Are Tackling Extreme Heat

Vogue
“You could start easily just by having cheap thermometers and logging to see what your indoor air temperatures and humidity levels are throughout a day and throughout a year,” observes Sarah Krasley, visiting fellow at ILR’s Global Labor Institute, pointing out that inexpensive equipment can provide data about conditions.
How Fashion Manufacturers Are Tackling Extreme Heat

Garment workers face heat risks in Bangladesh as energy cuts curb cooling

The Japan Times
A 2023 study by ILR’s Global Labor Institute is referenced in this article about problems and solutions for cooling garment workers on hot days; the study estimates significant job and income losses for the apparel industry if heat risks are not addressed. [Syndicated from Reuters]
Garment workers face heat risks in Bangladesh as energy cuts curb cooling