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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

Business of Fashion Op-Ed: 'Fashion’s Business Model Isn’t Fit for Climate Change'

This op-ed by Jason Judd and Sarosh Kuruvilla explores how the business model of fashion is failing to meet the complex problems posed by climate change.
A man walks through rain and dye outside a dyeing factory in Bangladesh. (Getty)
Business of Fashion Op-Ed: 'Fashion’s Business Model Isn’t Fit for Climate Change'

Many Lessons, Difficult Path to Solutions

A new working paper by the Global Labor Institute delves into the lessons learned by the apparel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and explores how to better handle future crises.
garment workers in a factory
Many Lessons, Difficult Path to Solutions

Global Apparel Supply Chain Factory Workers Walk When Wage Codes Are Violated

Research from Professor Sarosh Kuruvilla shows that factory workers in the global apparel supply chain are more likely to quit over low wages than other poor working conditions.
Garmet workers sewing in a factory
Global Apparel Supply Chain Factory Workers Walk When Wage Codes Are Violated

Corporate Codes of Conduct and Labour Turnover in Global Apparel Supply Chains

Research on private regulation of labour issues in global supply chains has focused extensively on whether supplier factories comply with the codes of conduct of global companies. Less is known about how such compliance relates to the preferences and behaviours of workers at export factories.
Colored Bolts of Fabric
Corporate Codes of Conduct and Labour Turnover in Global Apparel Supply Chains

Announcing the Global Labor Institute

NCP is now the Global Labor Institute at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations.
GLI Logo
Announcing the Global Labor Institute

Ship Detained After ILR/ILO Workshop on Labor Abuse Among Fishers

A recent training by the ILO, in collaboration with Cornell’s New Conversations Project, has resulted in the South African government detaining a foreign-flagged fishing vessel suspected of engaging in labor abuses.
Jason Judd (left) on the docks with a member of the South African Maritime Authority
Ship Detained After ILR/ILO Workshop on Labor Abuse Among Fishers

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”