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

Six Seasons, Four Summers: How to Solve Fashion's High Heat Problem

Read The Report

Cooling investments in Bangladesh’s apparel factories can be commercially viable, with an average payback period of one to four years, according to new research from Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute.

a washing image
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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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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

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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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

Latest Research and Events

Eliminating Gender-based Violence and Harassment in Global Supply Chains

We present here our analysis of processes and outcomes in year 2 of the operation of the agreement, as a prelude to a more comprehensive evaluation in 2025 when the agreement expires.
Busy factory floor with rows of sewing stations
Eliminating Gender-based Violence and Harassment in Global Supply Chains

25 Metrics to Measure Due Diligence in Global Supply Chain

Cornell ILR’s Global Labor Institute (GLI) launched its Labor Outcomes Metrics on May 29. The new set of 25 quantitative measures allows regulators, firms and unions to score, track and compare impacts over time.
Better Work Programme -  A worker in Bangladesh
25 Metrics to Measure Due Diligence in Global Supply Chain

Sourcing Journal: 'How Do We Measure Supply Chain Due Diligence? GLI Labor Outcome Metrics'

Read our Sourcing Journal summary of the new GLI Labor Outcomes Metrics.
Bangladesh Garment Workers
Sourcing Journal: 'How Do We Measure Supply Chain Due Diligence? GLI Labor Outcome Metrics'

Measuring Supply Chain Due Diligence

Read about the Global Labor Institute's new quantitative metrics that measure labor outcomes—actual impacts for workers.
Workers in Bangladesh
Measuring Supply Chain Due Diligence

Knowing and Showing: Using Cornell GLI’s Labor Outcome Metrics for Due Diligence

Join us online 29 May for the launch of Cornell GLI’s Labor Outcomes Metrics, a new set of 25 quantitative measures to allow regulators, firms, unions and the rest of us to score, track and compare impacts over time. Registration required.
570 Lexington Avenue
Knowing and Showing: Using Cornell GLI’s Labor Outcome Metrics for Due Diligence

GLI Announces new visiting fellow MEP Samira Rafaela

Member of the European Parliament Samira Rafaela joins the Global Labor Institute for 2024 – 2025 as a visiting fellow of the Cornell University ILR School.
Samira Rafaela
GLI Announces new visiting fellow MEP Samira Rafaela

In The News

Media Mentions

Cooling Bangladesh's garment factories is cheaper than it looks

MSN
The cost of reducing heat stress for workers in Bangladesh garment factories has an average payback period of one to four years says a report from ILR’s Global Labor Institute; the report discusses the need for cooling both factories and workers’ homes. [Syndicated from Sourcing Journal]
Cooling Bangladesh's garment factories is cheaper than it looks

Costs to cool Bangladesh garment factories can be recovered within four years, study shows

Reuters
Investments to provide cooling in Bangladesh garment factories are commercially viable and pay back within four years says a report from ILR’s Global Labor Institute; the report “gives both buyers and suppliers a context for the scale of the intervention required,” explains Jason Judd, executive director of the institute.
Costs to cool Bangladesh garment factories can be recovered within four years, study shows

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