Sweatshops linked to Primark, 2009

In 2009 it was found by a BBC reporter that Factory workers for Primark were working 12hours a day for £3.50 an hour. Primark's code of conduce promises workers a living wage.

Primark said they were "extremely concerned" about the situation and started to carry out their own investigation. In 2008 Primark made £233m profit, in comparison there is no acceptable reason for their factory staff to be suffering unethical conditions. 

Their website claimed to be "delivering fast fashion without breaking its ethical code or exploiting its workers"

TNS was one of Primark's biggest suppliers of knitwear and 2/3rds of TNS's orders are for Primark. BBC reporter Zahid Sarwar went under cover and found the following:

*She was employed without even being asked her name  
*There was no heating and workers had to where their coats in 'bitterly cold temperatures'. *There was only one toilet for both sexes as there was an unrepaired toilet.
*One man was an asylum seeker, working illegally for three years.
*Another mans Visa had expired 8 yeas ago.
*Others were cheating the benefit system, claiming sickness benefits while working

Overall, there was an 'intense work culture where employees admitted to being under pressure' and TNS insisted that the allegations were untrue or fabricated.

TNS was also found to have sent out work to smaller factories in Manchester which were in worse conditions. Primark tells its suppliers that they do not have the right to actually subcontract work. Fashion Waves was one of these smaller factories.

Fashion Waves findings:
*Corridors blocked with boxes
*Kitchen so dirty, workers ate sitting on piles of Primark clothing
*£3 an hour wages
*Illegal workers

Neil Kearney from the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers Federation said the following:
"This is the importation of third world working conditions into Europe"
"There's no such thing as cheap clothing, someone has to pay"

I think there is a lot that could be done to stop this. As a highstreet company, Primark could itself enforce quality control by ensuring the factories it uses are checked regularly, making sure they are applying to the standards of work Primark 'claim' to set.

Reference: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7824291.stm
Image: www.ptglobal.ner