High street retailers still using sweatshop factories

Major high street retailers including Next, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams, and BHS still buying

 

Major high street retailers including Next, Dorothy Perkins, Debenhams, and BHS have been buying 10.000's of items a month from the Fortune Garment and Knitting Factory near Phnom Penh the Cambodian capitol an investigation by the Observer newspaper has revealed.

The ILO (international labour organisation) reported serious concerns in a recent survey of the factory, including fears about health and safety and the treatment of those involved in union activities.

Meanwhile, a split has emerged between Philip Green's Arcadia group (who own high street brands such as Dorothy Perkins, BHS and Wallis) who claim that there are no serious issues at the factory; however, both Debenhams and Next claim to be aware of issues at the factory which they are currently trying to solve.

Workers and the ILO have complained about poor ventilation, direct exposure to chemical fumes, and a lack of sick pay.

A female worker is quoted in the Observer as saying:

"They use fans but it´s still very hot because there are not enough fans and only two doors, which are kept closed."

While another employee is quoted as saying

"In the washing room there are a lot of chemicals and the ceiling is not high so it gets very hot and stuffy. We are given masks but they are not good enough and we often suffer the effects of chemical inhalation."

Chemicals used in conventional clothing manufacture can include formaldehyde, and most textile workers exposed to chemicals suffer from long term ill health.

read full article here

 

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