By Juontel White, Intern, International Labor Rights Forum
Most, if not all, of the companies mentioned source from factories which pay workers poverty wages and use illegal tactics that suppress workers’ right to organize. Some of the brands (namely Gymboree, Hanes, and LL Bean) source cotton from Uzbekistan, which forces children to pick cotton instead of going to school.
ILRF along with other labor rights organizations have contacted several inductees requesting them to ensure that their supplier’s adhere to fair labor practices, such as ensuring workers safe working conditions, treatment with respect and dignity, and sufficient wages to support the basic needs of their families. Companies such as Walmart and Kohl’s have ignored requests to resolve factory issues and all inductees have failed to take any meaningful action.
The Sweatshop Hall of Shame features apparel companies that have consistently flouted worker’s rights. This year’s hall of shame highlights companies whose labor practices have failed to comply with international fair labor standards.
Most, if not all, of the companies mentioned source from factories which pay workers poverty wages and use illegal tactics that suppress workers’ right to organize. Some of the brands (namely Gymboree, Hanes, and LL Bean) source cotton from Uzbekistan, which forces children to pick cotton instead of going to school.
ILRF along with other labor rights organizations have contacted several inductees requesting them to ensure that their supplier’s adhere to fair labor practices, such as ensuring workers safe working conditions, treatment with respect and dignity, and sufficient wages to support the basic needs of their families. Companies such as Walmart and Kohl’s have ignored requests to resolve factory issues and all inductees have failed to take any meaningful action.
At the Menderes Tekstil Factory in Denizili, Turkey, which produces bed linen for Walmart, Kohl’s, and Ikea, it was reported that workers associated with the union were illegally dismissed. In addition, unsafe working conditions led to the death of four workers.
![N716583317_1352670_2172[1]](http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bf90b53ef0120a6a00982970b-120pi "N716583317_1352670_2172[1]")
The factory’s worker’s union TESKIF, requested ILRF to communicate with these U.S. brands but each company denied the problems. Some conducted private investigations but refused to release the findings.
For instance, IKEA commissioned an audit into labor conditions at Menderes and concluded there were no major problems. But trade unions and anti-sweatshop groups like the Clean Clothes Campaign were denied access to the results of the audit, raising serious concerns about the biased conclusions that often arise from a company’s self-commissioned audit.
Walmart and Kohl’s have each made little to no effort at improving labor conditions at the factory—instead they’ve promising to implement measures that would fail to make effective changes. Walmart signed a letter along with several of Menderes’ European brands that essentially voices support for the factory’s management and suggests no concern for intervening.
You can send a message directly to these companies expressing your outrage that they have allowed the workers in Turkey to be denied access to their basic rights according to international labor standards. TAKE ACTION NOW!![N716583317_1294704_8704[1]](http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bf90b53ef012875a259f1970c-320wi)
The Hall of Shame was created as a counterpart to the Shop with a Conscience Guide–a list of “sweatfree” options for socially-conscious shoppers who would like to purchase clothing made under ethical conditions. Launched three years ago by ILRF and SweatFree Communities, the guide is a valuable resource for consumers to identify the fairest companies of them all.
Consumers have the power to stop the gross labor violations rampant within the apparel and textile industries by demanding companies end a production system that exploits workers in order to satiate corporate greed. In addition, companies must fully comply with their own corporate social responsibility commitments and take bigger strides towards establishing safe and ethical working conditions for their laborers.
For instance, IKEA commissioned an audit into labor conditions at Menderes and concluded there were no major problems. But trade unions and anti-sweatshop groups like the Clean Clothes Campaign were denied access to the results of the audit, raising serious concerns about the biased conclusions that often arise from a company’s self-commissioned audit.
Walmart and Kohl’s have each made little to no effort at improving labor conditions at the factory—instead they’ve promising to implement measures that would fail to make effective changes. Walmart signed a letter along with several of Menderes’ European brands that essentially voices support for the factory’s management and suggests no concern for intervening.
You can send a message directly to these companies expressing your outrage that they have allowed the workers in Turkey to be denied access to their basic rights according to international labor standards. TAKE ACTION NOW!
The Hall of Shame was created as a counterpart to the Shop with a Conscience Guide–a list of “sweatfree” options for socially-conscious shoppers who would like to purchase clothing made under ethical conditions. Launched three years ago by ILRF and SweatFree Communities, the guide is a valuable resource for consumers to identify the fairest companies of them all.
Consumers have the power to stop the gross labor violations rampant within the apparel and textile industries by demanding companies end a production system that exploits workers in order to satiate corporate greed. In addition, companies must fully comply with their own corporate social responsibility commitments and take bigger strides towards establishing safe and ethical working conditions for their laborers.
As a geography teacher, I have learned that every harvest, everyone goes to the cotton fields in Uzbekistan, not just children. The children go to school but not during harvest. This is a practice common in rural areas who depend upon crops (even in the US). If you discourage major companies from buying cotton from this former soviet satelite you are not helping the people who depend upon the sale of their cotton. This dependency was created by USSR and continues today. So does the lack of water due to river sources being diverted for irrigation of cotton.
Posted by: kelly | July 06, 2011 at 11:14 PM
To Ray: We are quite pleased that after a lack of real commitment on the part of LL Bean, there was a complete about face. In fact we wrote a blog about it and are excited to see that LL Bean has now committed to not using cotton from Uzbekistan. Furthermore LL Bean will be present at a meeting in DC to discuss the issues further and more forward on an industry wide commitment on ending the use of child labor in cotton. You can read the blog at: http://laborrightsblog.typepad.com/international_labor_right/2009/11/ll-bean-responds-with-grace.html
To Sean: ILRF doesn't need to go to the Philippines in order for our claims to be valid since there are workers in the Philippines that can verify the information on their own. However ILRF does travel to the Philippines once or twice a year to meet with our partners there. Its my understanding that to this day Abercrombie hasn't responded to emails from the workers (or ILRF for that matter) which suggest Abercrombie isn't willing to take the necessary step of remediating the issues at this factory. Even more shocking is that the Abercrombie's code of conduct isn't even public so workers don't even know what standards Abercrombie expects in its factories. Furthermore, while there is a functioning legal system in the Philippines, it is often the case that the court sides with management and therefore workers, while utilizing the legal system, also have requested that Abercrombie intervene. I'd be quite interested in Abercrombie responding to ILRF or to the workers directly regarding the issues brought up in various phone and email communications over the last couple of months. Maybe you can help us reach Abercrombie to show how concerned we are and that we want things to be better at the Alta Mode factory? You can email me directly at trina.tocco@ilrf.org.
Posted by: Trina Tocco | December 04, 2009 at 05:28 PM
Totally agree, Ray. Totally unsubstantiated. According to the press on the Abercrombie issue, a union contacted ILRF to pressure Abercrombie into interceding in an ongoing labor dispute - one for which there are proceedings and rules and courts who decide these kinds of things. WITHOUT EVEN GOING TO THE COUNTRY, THE ILRF condemned Abercrombie and put them in the Hall of Shame. No consideration for all of the other things Abercrombie is doing positively. Two bit organization. Abercrombie wouldn't respond to their inquiries? Wonder why.....
ILRF - you may think you are doing good, but you are not. You are tabloid journalists.
Posted by: Sean | December 03, 2009 at 08:47 PM
The workers have the right to speak for their own rights. The human rights of every one of us must be aboard by the law and cannot be stop by anyone who has power. If there is something wrong about the company's system just review and ask if it is right or wrong.
Posted by: Law Firm Manila | November 25, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Hi, I work at L.L.Bean and we do not do these sort of things.
With all due respect please provide facts to backup these allegations.
Thanks so much...
Ray
Posted by: Ray Peaslee | November 24, 2009 at 08:15 AM