Australian fashion brands largely fail to prove living wages for overseas workers

A new report by Baptist World Aid Australia evaluated more than 500 local fashion houses and concluded that 87% cannot provide evidence of paying a living wage to workers in overseas factories. In the final-stage facilities where cutting, sewing and printing occur, a living wage—sometimes under $180 per month—was documented in only three percent of cases. Many brands acknowledged gaps in baseline pay beyond their immediate suppliers, even though they maintain labour-rights policies.

The study highlighted surf, skate, streetwear, ultra-fast fashion and footwear brands as the poorest performers. Katherine Halliday, the report’s author, warned that while companies are improving sustainability reporting, they are not delivering tangible wage gains for workers. She noted that higher wages could be afforded without significantly raising consumer prices, especially given Australia’s high cost of living and reliance on cheap imports.