K-Mart, Target, tell us where your Bangladeshi factories are: Oxfam

Campaigns and Advocacy, Fair Trade & Workers Rights, Media Releases, News article written on the 03 May 2013

Oxfam Australia is urging some of Australia’s biggest retailers to immediately release the locations of their factories in Bangladesh, as the death toll from last week’s collapse of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka climbs to more than 400.

Big W, Cotton On, K-Mart, Target and Pacific Brands are being asked to release details of supplier factories in the aftermath of the tragedy that continues to have ramifications around the world, with Pope Francis condemning working conditions in Bangladesh as “slave labour” and the European Union warning of trade sanctions.

Oxfam Australia’s labour rights coordinator Daisy Gardener said it was not enough for companies to assure customers that the people making their clothing were working in safe conditions.

“These big brands are operating behind a veil of secrecy,” Ms Gardener said.  “As factory locations are kept secret, there is no way of independently verifying that people are working in safe and decent conditions.

“Unfortunately, more than 17 years’ of research and experience has made it clear to Oxfam that sweatshop conditions are the norm in the global clothing industry throughout Asia, not the exception.

“We hear stories of mothers skipping meals in order to feed their children, as their wages are far too low, and working up to 15 hours a day.

“Companies have known about appalling working conditions for decades.  They cannot say they do not know.”

Ms Gardener said the fact that some companies conducted yearly audits and had guidelines for suppliers were good steps, but they needed to go further and release this information publicly.

“As company auditing remains confidential, it makes it impossible to know if safety issues are being adequately addressed,” Ms Gardener said.

She said the 2012 Fire and Building Safety Agreement, forged by Bangladeshi unions and local and international labour organisations, could prevent further tragedies, as it involved independent building inspections, worker rights training and a review of safety standards.

However, no Australian brand has signed on.  Companies that have are PvH – owner of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein – and Tchibo.

“If all clothing brands operating in Bangladesh signed on to this comprehensive agreement, it would greatly improve safety for workers across the country,” Ms Gardener said.

Ms Gardener said consumers could exert enormous influence by pressuring Australian brands to lift their game.

“No brand is too big to listen to its customers,” Ms Gardener said.  “If enough consumers tell companies they care about the conditions under which their clothes are made, they will listen.

“Write to companies – via their Facebook page or website – asking them to ensure decent conditions for the workers making their clothes. 

“We know this works.  We’ve seen companies like Nike, adidas and Puma respond to major consumer pressure by releasing the locations of their supplier factories.”

Laurelle Keough on 0425 701 801 or laurellek@oxfam.org.au