I. Scope of the Agreement

The Dindigul Agreement covers all workers at Eastman’s Exports’ facility in Dindigul, which has a capacity of over 5,000 workers. Most workers at these units are women and are casteoppressed. The majority are Dalit, born into the lowest rung of India’s caste system and subject to severe discrimination. They are mostly young women, generally aged between 18 and 25 years. A significant proportion of the workers are migrants from neighboring states who live in management-owned dormitories and do not speak the local language.

Units Covered by the Agreement at Eastman Exports’ Dindigul Facility

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1 1 Spinning Mills

Garment Factories Printing

The Dindigul Agreement relies on national and international labor standards and best practices, including International Labour Organization Convention 190 (Violence and Harassment Convention), Convention 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize Convention) and Convention 98 (The Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining Convention); the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the OECD’s garment and footwear sector guidance; the national law of India (strengthening workplace committees required by the 2013 POSH Act (Prevention of Sexual Harassment); and best practices included in the AFWA Safe Circle Approach.4