BRIC workers for European textile industry earn half living wage
Workers in BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) countries employed in the supply chain for the western European textile industry are earning under half the living wage, according to research by the University of Surrey. Using a Social Life Cycle Assessment model, which considers the entire lifecycle of a product, the researchers studied living costs in BRIC economies to calculate the cost of a “decent life”.  The study which, unlike previous analyses included social security and income tax contributions, found that, on average, the workers would need a 35% wage increase to achieve a "decent standard of living".

SURREY – Researchers at the Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES) claim that Western European textile supply chain workers in Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) are earning less than half of the ‘living wage’. CES says the study shows that while globalisation has made the Western European textile supply chain fairer, more transparent with higher levels of employment, income for workers in BRIC countries are still far below the ‘living wage’.