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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
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Latest Research and Events

GLI Testimony on Trade and Labor for the US International Trade Commission, March 2024

Jason Judd shared findings from recent research and experiences on three under‐explored elements of apparel industry competitiveness: wage‐setting, labor outcomes for workers, and climate vulnerability and adaptation.
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GLI Testimony on Trade and Labor for the US International Trade Commission, March 2024

GLI 2024 Conference Rolls Up Sleeves to Tackle Global Apparel Production

“The progress of science begins with this sharing of knowledge, expertise and networks, and today we are guests of the Global Labor Institute conference where these three components converge,” said Samira Rafaela at the 2024 GLI Conference on Feb. 2.
Jason Judd at GLI Conference
GLI 2024 Conference Rolls Up Sleeves to Tackle Global Apparel Production

Presentation Angus Bauer, Schroders, and Jason Judd, Cornell University

Higher Ground? Climate breakdown and its impacts for global apparel production.
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Presentation Angus Bauer, Schroders, and Jason Judd, Cornell University

Presentation Sarosh Kuruvilla, ILR School, Cornell University

Groundhog Day. Or, How do we know what works to improve working conditions and advance labor rights?
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Presentation Sarosh Kuruvilla, ILR School, Cornell University

Keynote Samira Rafaela, Member of the European Parliament

What do E.U. and U.S. corporate accountability in supply chains look like?
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Keynote Samira Rafaela, Member of the European Parliament

Didier Reynders Opening Remarks at GLI Conference 2024

Opening Remarks on European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence. Presentation from the Cornell Global Labor Institute's 2024 Conference: Change or Groundhog Day? What new research tells us about what works in global labor governance.
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Didier Reynders Opening Remarks at GLI Conference 2024

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