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Article

5 Dec 2008

Author:
Matthew Taylor, Guardian [UK]

Retailers accused of ignoring Bangladeshi workers' plight

Workers producing clothes in Bangladesh for some of the UK's biggest retailers are being forced to work up to 80 hours a week for as little as 7p an hour, according to a report published today. The study from War on Want claims that conditions in six factories supplying Primark [part of Associated British Foods], Tesco and Asda [part of Wal-Mart] are worse than they were two years ago when the charity carried out its first investigation...Last night Primark said it was committed to ethical sourcing of its clothes and continually audited its suppliers. A spokesman for Asda said it was committed to "doing the right thing" for suppliers. Tesco said it took working conditions in its supply chain "extremely seriously" but criticised War on Want which refused to name the factories in order to protect the workers.

Part of the following timelines

Following rise in Tesco, Primark profits, War on Want says firms “cashing in” on recession by exploiting garment workers, based on previous reports

Follow-up report finds still no improvement in working conditions at Bangladeshi factories supplying Asda, Tesco & Primark