abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Article

7 Aug 2020

Author:
Tansy Hoskins & Juan Mayorga, the Guardian

Guatemala: Covid-19 outbreak at factories supplying major global garment brands reveal lack of adequate safety measures for workers

“Covid outbreak exposes dire conditions at Guatemala factory making US brands”, 06 August 2020

A garment factory supplying Gap, American Eagle and Amazon was at the centre of one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks in Guatemala, the Guardian can reveal.

More than 200 people tested positive for Covid-19 at the KP Textil factory, exposing the dire working conditions …

Human rights activists said that KP Textil, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, lacked adequate health and safety measures to prevent an outbreak …

… [T]he factory denied full entry to inspectors from the health ministry and the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGGS) on the grounds that the premises were private property and that testing would interfere with production.

When all 900 workers were tested, 201 positive cases were reported. The virus outbreak went on to cause the death of at least one KP Textil garment worker.

Despite numerous approaches to KP Textil for comment, no one responded…

Maquila companies operate in free trade zones, where taxes and wages are kept deliberately low to attract foreign investment and multinational fashion brands…

Homero Fuentes, from local NGO Coverco, … said of the 89 factories investigated in the country, just two had followed all the safety protocols.

Gap stated that it had based its Covid-19 advice “on information from public health and work safety experts … We have been in close contact with labour rights organisations … as part of our effort to ensure that KP Textil most effectively mitigates the impacts of Covid-19 on their workers,” it said.

American Eagle said … “KP Textil has taken a number of positive actions to address the concerns in cooperation with government authorities.”

Amazon said it has “provided extra funding to help suppliers and their workers access helplines, purchase personal protective equipment, and receive health and safety training. We … have immediately launched an investigation. If we find violations, we will quickly drive corrective action.”