Date of publication: February 13, 2009

Source: just-style.com

» http://www.just-style.com/article.aspx?id=103295

Supermarket retailers including Carrefour, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, and Wal-Mart are facing new allegations of workers' rights violations in their supply chains.

According to a new report released by Netherlands-based pressure group the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), workers in their garment supply chains face "increasing poverty, appalling conditions, and serious workers rights violations".

CCC research in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Thailand was published this week in "Cashing In: Giant retailers, purchasing practices, and working conditions in the garment industry".

Workers at factories supplying the retailers allegedly told researchers they worked up to 90-hour weeks, did unpaid overtime, for wages "so low that families are malnourished".

"At the same time suppliers revealed how the supermarkets are cranking up the pressure to deliver faster and produce cheaper - a model that makes a mockery of the social commitments made by these companies," a statement by CCC added.

Four of the retailers mentioned in the report were unable to comment when contacted yesterday afternoon (12 February).

A statement from US retailer Wal-Mart said: "Wal-Mart maintains a robust ethical standards program and treats any allegation of impropriety seriously. We understand the complexities of global sourcing in the garment industry and have taken numerous pro-active steps to monitor that the apparel in our stores is manufactured in a socially responsible manner."

Wal-Mart also noted that it has committed all suppliers to provide the name and location of every factory they use this year, and said it works with industry peers in forums such as the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP).

"Wal-Mart will continue to play a leadership role in the industry through its responsible sourcing initiatives," the company added.