Arcadia group states that it is committed to paying a living wage throughout its supply chain, but it claims such a commitment is impossible to translate into reality unless wages are set by law. Yet even in the UK, where a living wage is protected by law, workers are being paid less than half the minimum wage.

An hourly wage for a Bangladeshi worker in an Arcadia Group supply chain, according to figures submitted to the group’s Let's Clean up Fashion report in 2009, was 21p per hour. Just 8% of the illegal wage being paid to workers from Sammi Leisure Wear Ltd.

“If poverty wages and dangerous, unsanitary conditions such as those uncovered by Dispatches are happening here in the UK, what standards are consumers to expect in Arcadia's overseas suppliers?” says Anna McMullen of Labour Behind the Label. “We'd encourage Arcadia Group to take a serious look at its production worldwide and to take action to prevent living wage violations for its many impoverished workers, both here and overseas.”

Labour Behind the Label and other campaigners tonight also express concern for the workers currently employed at Sammi Leisure Wear Ltd. and Kiwi Clothing (UK) Ltd., should the retailers concerned pull their orders from the units and cause job losses.

 “Falling back on the excuse that these factories were unauthorised subcontractors is not good enough”. explains Ms McMullen. “Promising to remove the garments in question from the shelves does nothing to help the workers who have been the victims of exploitation. Responsible action would be for these retailers to work with suppliers to ensure workers are paid a fair and legal wage for the work they have completed, and that these appalling conditions are improved immediately.

ENDS

Notes for editors: To read Arcadia Group's submission to Let's Clean up Fashion 2009 see http://www.labourbehindthelabel.org/campaigns/item/893-lcuf-arcadia

Excerpt from Submission: 'Arcadia Group supports the principle of a living wage... the difficulty continues to be how to measure it. Until there is a universally agreed alternative, we rely on a solid benchmark specified by an ILO Convention, and that is the minimum wage set by law in the appropriate country, or local industry benchmark standards.'

See www.labourbehindthelabel.org for more information on sweatshop conditions worldwide.

Contact: Anna McMullen; 07786 832035; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it