Factory workers supplying major brands have declared slave-like working conditions with long hours and very low wages. Fashion has appeared to be a dazzling industry but workers have been exploited for uncountable years. This concerns mainly female workers in India. Fashion industries aspire to have their products done rapidly and with minimum costs, occasioning this issue.
Workers in brands such as Ralph Lauren, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s spoke out about the terrible conditions they were working in. In consequence, these brands were shocked by the allegations and acclaimed they were going to review their worker's conditions and conduct. The BBC, which primarily reported this issue and focused on women in a rural part of South India said they were often mistreated by factory owners and managers, they were forced to labor past their hours and many times slept in the factory to achieve production targets of the brand. They were also prevented from the usage of restrooms and hardly had time to drink water or eat due to the missing work. What’s more, this is far from being the first time concerns have been raised for women working in garment factories across South Asia According to a report by Global Labor justice, women convey 80 to 95% of the workforce in Asian Industries. This report disclosed how these women were victims of verbal, physical abuse and exploitation from factory supervisors. Low wages, weak labor laws alongside corruption during the inspections made these women beyond vulnerable for exploitation. In addition, India has become the world's second-largest manufacturer and exporter of clothing by international brands, a profitable market with high demand. Furthermore, the brands titled in the BBC report asserted that they were investigating the situation and were greatly concerned about the women. In response to this, Mark & Spencer stated they would consider the allegations seriously, however they denied the claim that workers had no access to restrooms or water. Sainsbury was disturbed and took action investigating their factories and committing to the well-being of the workers. Ralph Lauren stated that they would investigate the allegations but sustained that they will demand from their suppliers to meet strict operating standards to ensure a healthy workplace. Finally, Tesco Investigated the allegations and was concerned with what they found, they wouldn't tolerate any abuse against workers.
The fashion industry can be beguiling and inspiring but it hides a lot behind curtains, and we as consumers need to be aware of what happens around us. This lamentable situation had as its pillar the abuse of power. On the other hand, people are slowly working towards a change in the way employees are being treated in the production segment of the fashion industry, thanks to that, these women are hopefully going to have much better working conditions. We need to remember that being ethical is vital, now that we are aware of issues like this we need to continue to be attentive towards the fashion industry’s obscure sides.
Maia
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Sources
“Workers 'Routinely Exploited' at Indian Factories Supplying Major Brands.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 17 Nov. 2020, www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-workers-exploited-tesco-sainsburys-b1724183.html.
Vaidyanathan, Rajini. “Indian Factory Workers Supplying Major Brands Allege Routine Exploitation.” BBC News, BBC, 17 Nov. 2020, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54960346.
Workers : Garment Factory, 11 Jan. 2015, www.studiofynn.com/documentary/workers-garment-factory.