Bangladeshi workers fight back

Warning;

This report makes grim reading.

It also offers some hope that the violations detailed in the report are being taken seriously by the brands using this company.

"How did they not know this was happening?" you might reasonably ask.
Record falsification is a frequent and common problem. In this particular case, the management at both factories seem to be particularly aggressive in their use of it. Bribery and corruption of auditors by factory management are also common problems.

Read the full report here and ask yourselves, could this be happening in my supply chain. The answer is of course, it might. If you are not engaging with your factories first hand, and are not reviewing their management systems to see if they have the capability to meet compliance codes of conduct, this could well be you.

Update on the violence in Cambodia

Here's an article from Just Style, written by Leonie Barrie.

It would have been nice to see some kind of message from the Brands and Retailers to the effect that they would be willing to address the root cause of low wages and overtime, as well as putting pressure on the government. A little bit of introspection here wouldn't go amiss.

Just sayin'.

 

CAMBODIA: Apparel coalition calls for end to violent unrest

Author: Leonie Barrie | 12 March 2012

Brands and retailers including Puma, H&M, Gap Inc, Columbia Sportswear, American Eagle Outfitters, The Jones Group, Warnaco Inc and Lululemon Athletica have joined a coalition of industry groups calling for an end to the violent unrest that continues to plague Cambodia's garment sector.
Their action has been prompted by an incident in the Manhattan Special Economic Zone (SEZ) last month, where three female workers at Puma supplier Kaoway Sports Ltd were shot and injured, and products and facilities of Kaoway, Kingmaker and Sheico were damaged by demonstrators.
A letter sent last week to Cambodia's Minister of Commerce, HE Cham Prasidh, urges the government to conduct a "full and transparent investigation into the recent activities."
"We hope the government will redouble efforts to create a safe and stable environment for workers and businesses in the country," add the groups, which include the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), along with the Fair Labor Association (FLA), and the Ethical Trading Initiative.
"We had hoped that the agreements set out by the local authority were satisfactory enough for all parties to settle their differences and begin to rebuild industrial peace.
"We respectfully urge the Royal Government of Cambodia to conduct a full and transparent investigation into the recent activities in the Manhattan SEZ and hold those responsible for injuring workers accountable."
The coalition says it will continue to stand by Cambodia "through this period and support constructive dialogue between all parties.
In 2011, Cambodia supplied nearly $2.6bn worth of apparel to the US, making it the sixth largest supplier.