On April 19th 2023, the 8th anniversary of the Jaba Garmindo bankruptcy, German clothing group, s.Oliver gave 100K Euros to 2,000 former garment workers in Indonesia who are legally owed $5.5 million in severance pay. Uniqlo still refuses to pay anything towards the debt owed to these workers.

The Fair Labour Association (FLA) began an 18-month investigation, hampered by COVID-19, resulting in a report published in July 2021. The FLA investigator issued recommendations that both Fast Retailing and s.Oliver, along with the other 18 brands who sourced from the factory, pay into a financial relief fund for the workers.

2,000 Jaba Garmindo workers continue to call on Uniqlo to acknowledge its responsibility and pay the $5.5 million owed in severance. Uniqlo continues to deny any responsibility for these workers and refuses to meaningfully engage with the issue.

The Jaba Garmindo workers have suffered extremely negative and life-changing affects from being denied severance pay for so long. Indonesia offers no social security or benefits to cover periods of unemployment, which is the unofficial role fulfilled by severance payments. Many former Jaba Garmindo workers are desperate, borrowing money at high interest rates from loan sharks in order to survive. Some are destitute, unable to afford to send their children to school or pay for medical care when necessary. Re-employment has been difficult for many as, due to their age and the length of time they worked at Jaba Garmindo, they are now considered too old to get a new job. Others have been blacklisted due to their continued efforts to secure the severance payments they are owed.

October

Extensive global public campaigning, which included Clean Clothes Campaign sponsoring two workers to travel to Tokyo to try and hold a meeting with Uniqlo. Uniqlo refused to meet with them.

July

Following a global public campaign, Uniqlo invited union representatives to a meeting hosted and facilitated by the Indonesian office of ILO Better Work. The ILO facilitator described the purpose of the meeting as an opportunity for Uniqlo to gather information and hear worker testimonies about labour violations prior to and in connection with the factory closure. The meeting concluded with all parties agreeing to a follow-up meeting where discussions would be continued. Subsequently, the union approached Uniqlo to organise the follow-up meeting, as agreed, but Uniqlo refused to re-engage. Uniqlo sent the union a take-it-or-leave-it offer that they would 'make efforts' to find re-employment for the workers. This offer was not only vague but did not address the primary concern of wage theft and severance rights violations.

April

Jaba Garmindo was declared bankrupt, leaving 2,000 workers suddenly unemployed, owed back pay for several months work as well as legally- required severance pay.

Court case over bankruptcy, in which Jaba Garmindo workers were listed as 'primary creditors'. They received the back pay they were owed but nothing towards the severance payment they were due. Bankruptcy documents cite the withdrawal of orders, as a result of the WRC investigation, as the primary cause of bankruptcy. Owners also cite brands purchasing practices as a contributing factor.

January

Workers report that wages were not being paid on time. Legal claims were filed against Jaba Garmindo by two of the company's creditor banks, due to failure to repay debts.