Campaigners' concern for workers behind Primark's ”UK Sweatshop” shame
Monday, 12 January 2009 12:18
Labour Behind the Label is calling for fair treatment for workers in two Manchester-based Primark suppliers amid concerns that they may face punishment over their legal status after Primark called in the Border Agency to deal with the issue.
The article in yesterday's Observer claimed that workers at TNS and Fashion Waves were being paid just £3 an hour and were working over 80 hours a week in a cramped and unsafe workplace. Yet despite the horrific conditions it seems the famous high street brand would rather blame the victims than take responsibility for improving conditions. Primark's response to the allegations has been to call in the immigration authorities, leading to serious concerns that workers could face dismissal and deportation for speaking out to journalists.
Labour Behind the Label supports calls for the factory owner to be prosecuted under UK employment law, but believes that if deportations take place it will be difficult, if not impossible, for workers to get the back pay and compensation they deserve. Primark and their suppliers may once again evade responsibility for these serious human rights violations while those brave enough to speak out are punished and silenced.
“The nationality and status of these workers is not the issue here,” says LBL campaigner, Samantha Maher. “The real scandal is that workers in the 21st century are working in such terrible conditions. It is the companies that turn a blind eye in the name of ever bigger profits that are the culprits, not the workers trying to make a better life for themselves and their families”.
LBL is urging Primark to take positive action to support these workers in improving conditions, and say should not repeat the mistakes they made following the India child labour scandal, where they sacked the suppliers involved. Primark should also call on the UK authorities to allow the workers to remain here to fight for their rights and ensure workers and unions are involved in any remediation. In other countries companies have worked with governments to legalise migrant workers found in their supply chain and Primark should consider doing the same.
According to Maher, "Primark should be going into the factory, speaking to the workers and making sure they are properly compensated, not just calling in the Border Agency to get rid of the problem. We are urging Primark and the British authorities to support these workers in seeking justice rather than punishing them for speaking out through arrest and deportation”.
This new expose proves once more that Primark's claims to be an ethical retailer are little more than hollow rhetoric and Labour Behind the Label is hoping that this will be a wake up call to the company that it needs to take it's social responsibility more seriously.[4] Primark and other high street companies need to examine why their audits are failing workers and take action to properly monitor conditions in factories in the UK and around the world. They also need to look at the prices being paid to their suppliers to ensure that the minimum wage can be paid and legal standards can be met at every workplace.
“That these conditions can be found here in the UK, so close to Primark's head office proves once more that Primark's ethical claims are more about PR than reality,” says Maher. "Its time for Primark to cut the spin and to start getting serious about improving working conditions in its supply chain.”
Links to more information:
Original Observer article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/11/primark-ethical-business-living
BBC News:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7822902.stm
ITGLWF:
http://www.itglwf.org/DisplayDocument.aspx?idarticle=15652&langue=2
Manchester Evening News:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1089774_primark_sweatshop_claims
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1089808_mp_shut_primark_sweatshop
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1089829_disgusting_but_primarks_so_cheap
