Reports

At least 21 workers have been killed in a fire at the Garib & Garib Sweater Factory in Gazipur, Bangladesh. A further 50 workers are suffering from burns or smoke inhalation. According to the company’s website, Garib & Garib Sweater Factory is manufacturing for H&M, Otto, 3Suisses International, Pimkie, TechTextile Russia, Provera and Mark’s Work Wearhouse, and has previously supplied Littlewoods, Lindex, JC Penney and Wal Mart.

HONG KONG / MONTREAL – Sept. 24, 2008 – A large part of China's remarkable economic development has been achieved at the expense of the basic rights of millions of former state-owned enterprise workers, says a new report released today by the Hong Kong-based China Labour Bulletin and Canada's International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, commonly known as Rights & Democracy.

From China Labour Bulletin:

H&M: economic miracle?

H&M isn't just a store chain. This is a real money machine. (Financial analyst, 2003)

H&M: sweatshop chain

2003:
In Bangkok, Thailand, workers as young as 16 years old sew H&M clothes until 11pm, nearly every night, for illegal wages.

2003:
In Indonesia 500 workers producing H&M walked off the job in protest of wage rates that are below the legal minimum. At the factory producing for H&M, some people work up to 60 hours per week - sometimes taking clothes home to finish sewing - for as little as $1 per day.

Zanon briefing: in their own words

“Nike... your shoes are full of blood and tears”:

Nike and sweatshop exploitation - a guide for activists

Nike: built on workers’ misery

Nike has a nice image in the British high street. But the giant company looks a bit different to those who slave in factories making Nike clothes and trainers. The thing to remember about Nike – when you watch the skilfully made, trendy adverts, or see top Nike-sponsored athletes perform, or take part in Nike-backed charity-PR events – is that Nike is built on workers’ misery.

Levi Strauss: a company in crisis
Levi’s and sweatshop exploitation

- a draft guide for activists, July 04. No Sweat

In their own words

Founded in 1853 by Bavarian immigrant Levi Strauss, Levi Strauss is one of the world's largest brand-name apparel marketers with sales in more than 100 countries. There is no other company with a comparable global presence in the jeans and casual pants markets. Our market-leading products are sold under the Levi’s, Dockers and Levi Strauss brands.

Disney sub-contractors, Haiti (1996):
“… we met with a large group of N.S. Mart workers, all of whom sewed Disney garments. They told us that the majority of workers at N.S. Mart - almost everyone - earns just 28 cents an hour, which is $2.22 for a full eight-hour day. And, they reported, at times they are short-changed on their hours and pay.
“The workers also told us the plant is hot, dusty and poorly lit. Some complained about having trouble with their eyesight and respiratory problems.

Tesco – a briefing for activists

'Treat people how we like to be treated' – one of CEO Terry Leahy’s “Tesco values”

Tesco’s success
 Tesco PLC is the largest British retailer, both by global sales and by domestic market share – the fourth largest in the world. According to TNS Superpanel, Tesco's share of the UK grocery market in the 12 weeks to 4 December 2005 was 30.6%. Across all categories, over £1 in every £8 of UK retail sales is spent at Tesco.

Arcadia and sweatshop exploitation - a guide for activists

The Arcadia Group – who are they:
‘With over 2000 outlets throughout the country, Arcadia Group is the UK’s largest clothing retailer, reaching customers through seven brands in the UK and a growing number of international stores. There is hardly a high street or shopping centre that isn’t host to one or more of Arcadia’s eight celebrated brands – Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Miss Selfridge, Outfit, TOPSHOP, TOPMAN, and Wallis.’

Facts about Wal-Mart

 Wal-Mart is the world’s largest retailer and largest private employer.
ï‚· Sam Walton founded the firm in 1962 as a single store in Arkansas, USA.
ï‚· It now has more than 5,700 stores worldwide.
ï‚· It employs 1,500,000 workers worldwide.
ï‚· Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the USA, Canada and Mexico and a major competitor in the UK, Germany, Brazil and South Korea.
ï‚· The FT Global 500 ranked Wal-Mart as the sixth largest multinational according to the total worth of its shares.