The forced temporary closure of garment manufacturing units due to pandemic conditions is now showing huge losses in the form of lost wages for workers. According to a report by the Financial Times, workers in Asia itself have lost close to $6billion in wages.

This is also a result of many fashion brands discontinuing production or withdrawing orders due to money crunch on their end too. According to a report by the labour union alliance Clean Clothes Campaign, workers have received partial or no wages at all since March this year.

In an approximately 50 million person manufacturing industry, the report confirms that an average worker has literally lost about a fifth of pay, representing roughly $5.8bn in unpaid or lost wages. It is also believed that many workers in Asia do extra work (at times unregulated work) in order to make ends meet. The sudden drop in wages has forced many to even pull their children out of school and the situation is desperate.

https://www.theworkersrights.com/labour-rights/2020/08/11/garment-manufacturing-hits-worker-salaries-in-asia-post-pandemic/