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Article

23 Apr 2006

Author:
Nick Mathiason, John Aglionby, Observer [UK]

Exposed: life at factory [Cambodia] that supplies our fashion stores [UK]

Serious allegations about the treatment of workers at a clothing supplier to many of Britain's leading high street names have come to light...Retailers including Next, Debenhams and brands owned by Philip Green [CEO of Arcadia] including BHS, Wallis and Dorothy Perkins buy tens of thousands of items a month from the Fortune Garment and Woollen Knitting Factory about 20 miles outside the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The factory has been judged among the worst of those inspected in Cambodia by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on a host of health and safety issues, as well as its treatment of trade union activity...[Philip] Green...says that according to an audit produced for its clients by Bureau Veritas just 10 days ago, there are no serious problems at the factory...Debenhams says that for the past year it has been working with other big retailers to improve conditions at the factory...Next said: 'We started using this factory in June 2003 and were first made aware in June 2005 of ... allegations...and have actively worked with the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and other retailers in investigating these and setting about improving working conditions in the factory..."