Primark facing loss of customers over alleged use of child labour
According to a poll published today the retail chain Primark faces losing customers following a BBC documentary on the alleged use of child labour by the company.
The poll conducted by ICM Research for Drapers magazine, found that 42 per cent of people who shop at Primark are now either less likely or a lot less likely to shop at the chain.
Prior to the programme's airing, Primark, owned by Associated British Foods, ditched the south Indian suppliers in question and launched a raft of initiatives to improve auditing and standards in its supply chain.
A statement on the chain’s response website read “under our Code of Conduct, children are expressly forbidden to work on clothes produced for us and none of our suppliers has our permission to sub-contract production. These rules are strict and are intended to ensure that our high ethical standards are met by any factory that wishes to sell to us.”
According to the chain the examples from the Panorama programme were a result of a supplier sub-contracting ‘without Primark’s knowledge or consent using unauthorised home workers, including children’.
Pressure groups believe that the increased ethical standards would not have been forthcoming with out the negative media exposure.
Green Buying Consultant David Brown commented ‘it is too early to see the full effects. However, it is likely to take years to mend the retailer’s brand image’. He added ‘companies such as Gap and Nike have worked for years to address supply chain issues yet still face fresh allegations of poor practice’.
Related links:
www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/jun/23/primark.children
Article Date: 04 July 2008
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