Bangladesh

War on Want has launched its latest report Fashion Victims II: How UK clothing retailers are keeping workers in poverty, which exposes the appalling conditions faced by workers producing clothes for Primark, Tesco and Asda.

From the Guardian, Dec 3, 2008. Original article in response to our letter, plus response from TUC chief Brendan Barber to TUC General Council and affiliates.

Apparently, the TUC is thinking hard about who it books its facilities out to. We would still like to see the AGM blocked and a firm statement from the TUC urging Primark to clean up its act!

TUC in 'sweatshop labour' row over firm hiring congress hall

The TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, is refusing to back down over a decision to let out its congress hall this Friday to a British company whose suppliers are alleged to use sweatshop labour in Bangladesh to manufacture cheap T shirts.

A threadbare defence
Primark answered critics over its use of child labour by closing factories in India. But its PR worries aren't over yet
Ewa Jasiewicz

Five months after the Panorama child labour exposé, Primark has been caught with its trousers down – this time over a protest against the clothing company's participation in a major PR event.

British fast fashion giant PRIMARK was due to present on how it weathered the Panorama scandal which exposed the use of child labour in its' supply chains this summer. Unfortunately for them their boasts of having made the outcry go away were premature!

BANGALORE MAHANAGARA PALLIKE GUTTIGE POWRAKARMIKARA SANGHA
(Union of Bangalore City Corporation Contract Streetsweepers)

An appeal for support

Friends,
There are more than ten thousand contract powrakarmikas (municipal workers) in Bangalore, employed to keep the city clean. Over 80 percent of them are dalit and women. They labour under inhuman work conditions. They work six days a week, through sun and rain, cleaning the garbage with their bare hands.

[from Clean Clothes campaign]
April 11 marks the third anniversary of the Spectrum factory collapse in
Bangladesh.

The collapse, of the factory, build on swamp and not up to standard, killed 64 and injured 80, of which 54 seriously.

LONDON NO SWEAT FORUM

Tesco has said it will investigate the circumstances of a series of violent demonstrations at factories in Bangladesh where workers have been protesting for higher wages and better working conditions.

Over 1000 workers producing clothes for Tesco H&M and Primark riot against beatings and poverty pay...

Workers endure up to 84-hour weeks to survive

Long hours and low pay breach industry codes, say workers

"Of 42.39 million Bangladeshi children aged 5-17 years 7.42 million were economically active, of which 3.18 million were considered child labourers."