Social Environment and Standards at the Work Place in the Garment Industry in Bulgaria. Results from a Preliminary Research carried out within a Clean Clothes Campaign International Project

During the last decade of transition some adverse and contradictory amendments and changes have been introduced in the labour legislation which led to great pressure on the labour market and job insecurity. Along with that process there has been a sharp increase in unemployment, decline of living standard and violations of labour rights - some of them very serious. This turned out to be very typical for the garment industry which became a research target under the CCC Programme. Moreover – the implementation of legislation and the protection of labour rights usually become very difficult due to the great number and scope of other problems the relevant institutions and organizations have to deal with during the hard transition period. Therefore a keen need arose to carry out a profound analysis of the possibilities provided for by the international standards for the respect of labour rights at the work place, the workers’ dignity protection and securing decent living standards for them and for the members of their families.