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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

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