India

Tata, the transnational Indian conglomerate whose wholly-owned subsidiary Tetley makes the world famous Tetley Teas, has taken 6,500 people hostage through hunger. The hostages are nearly 1,000 tea plantation workers and their families on the Nowera Nuddy Tea Estate in West Bengal, India. The workers, living in poverty and always on the edge of hunger, are locked out and have been denied wages for all but two days' work since early August.

Guardian story, 17 6 08
The fashion chain Primark has axed three longstanding suppliers in southern India for using child labour, after being alerted to the practice by the BBC.

The suppliers - from the Tirapur region of the Tamil Nadu province - were subcontracting embroidery work on dresses to children working from home.

The retailer, which is owned by the Associated British Foods group and operates 170 stores in the UK, accounts for £1 in every £10 spent on clothing.

Agreement reached between Clean Clothes Campaign / India Committee of the Netherlands and Indian clothing manufacturer

An Observer investigation into children making clothes has shocked the retail giant and may cause it to withdraw apparel ordered for Christmas

Gap: caught out again...

During a state visit to India of the Dutch Queen and several ministers and companies, the Indian Minister of Economic affairs, Shri Kamal Nath, confronted the Dutch delegation with misleading information on the work of the Clean Clothes Campaign and the India Committee of the Netherlands, in relation to the factory FFI in Bangalore. The CCC sent out a pres statement (see below) to rectify the information in the Dutch press.

Third death in a year at Indian factory that supplies Gap
· Clothing firm tells supplier to investigate conditions
· Worker verbally abused for leave request, union says

Two of Britain's major high street retailers have launched inquiries into allegations that factory workers who make their clothes in India are being paid as little as 13p per hour for a 48-hour week, wages so low the workers claim they sometimes have to rely on government food parcels.

Gurgaon Workers' News from the IT capital of India details conditions in sweatshops in the area and provides a detailed rundown of last year's strike wave. Workers explain in their own words the exploitative conditions of their work.

Two of Britain's leading retail chains are selling clothing made by child slaves, an Observer investigation reveals today. The exposé raises serious questions about this country's soaring demand for low-cost clothing and has triggered angry calls for retailers to take far greater care in sourcing garments.
Sunday April 22, The Observer

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