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II. Background to the Dindigul Agreement
The Dindigul Agreement is a result of the Justice for Jeyasre campaign organized by TTCU, AFWA, and GLJ-ILRF in 2021. Jeyasre Kathiravel, a 21-year-old Dalit garment worker at Eastman Exports’ Dindigul facility, was murdered by her supervisor from the factory in January 2021. The Justice for Jeyasre campaign organized multiple campaign actions, including a Global Vigil attended by more than 1,000 people from 33 countries as well as a Justice for Jeyasre speaking tour across the U.S., covering more than 10 cities, to build global solidarity for the binding agreement to address GBVH at Eastman Exports’ Dindigul facility.
Labor and brand stakeholders jointly requested the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) to conduct an investigation on GBVH at the factory in March 2021. Their investigation5 found that there was an environment of pervasive GBVH in the factory, exacerbated by other coercive and abusive practices. In view of these violations, the WRC also recommended the creation of a comprehensive, worker-led program of action, via binding agreements among Eastman, fashion brands, and worker representatives.
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As a result of all these efforts, Jeyasre’s parents received a mutually agreed-upon compensation, and the Dindigul Agreement to Eliminate GBVH was signed by Eastman Exports and H&M with the labor stakeholders in April 2022. Similar agreements were signed later in the year with Gap Inc. and PVH Corp.
Jeyasre Kathiravel, worker at Eastman Exports, Tamil Nadu, India is murdered by her supervisor after facing months of sexual harassment by him
Justice for Jeyasre campaign launches with 90+ international unions, labor groups, women's organizations, and other allies calling on H&M, Gap Inc., PVH Corp., and their supplier Eastman Exports to sign a binding agreement to end GBVH
Mutually agreeable compensation is reached
The Dindigul Agreement to Eliminate GBVH is signed by TTCU, AFWA, and GLJ-ILRF, with H&M and Eastman Exports
US companies Gap Inc. and PVH Corp. also join the agreement later in 2022.
Justice for Jeyasre speaking tour across the US
Justice for Jeyasre Global Vigil
