Primark : On the Rack

[m8internet]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/7461496.stm

This Panorama report, seen on BBC One at 9pm on Monday 23 June, resulted in this :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/7456965.stm

Is this :
bad publicity which raised their profile
or
bad publicity which has lost them customers?

[penny2610]

I dont think it would have affected them at all.

[oliviayamina]

Customers don't care how their clothes are made as long as they are cheap. The exploited workers are too far away to have any impact on people's minds. It's the same when there are natural disasters. No-one really cares unless British people are involved.

If the exploited children were in the UK that would be a different matter.....

[retailworld]

I missed the programme but will watch it later then post my thoughts.

Olivia... interesting comment, and spot on... if it was happening in the UK could you imagine the public reaction?!

[m8internet]

Primark have signed up to the ethical trade agreement
This clealry states that children workers will not be used, no matter what country the products are sourced from

Surely though it can't be right to not use children in this country, but it's OK to use them in other countries
I'm sorry but children should be at school, no matter what country they are in, not working 66 hour weeks!

[oliviayamina]

Primark have signed up to the ethical trade agreement
This clealry states that children workers will not be used, no matter what country the products are sourced from

Surely though it can't be right to not use children in this country, but it's OK to use them in other countries
I'm sorry but children should be at school, no matter what country they are in, not working 66 hour weeks!

Exactly, but as far as the general public are concerned, paying less for an item of clothing is more important than who made it and under what conditions.

I personally am very very conscious of this issue being a retailer and try to source as many as possible of my garments from Europe - Spain, Portugal, Italy and the UK - where I know the working conditions are regulated.

I know how my customers think however and even some of my friends who are affluent enough not to have to buy cheap garments but the price is still king.

There are so many programmes on TV these days about garment factories - apart from The Panorama programme there was also Blood Sweat and T-shirts and another programme about Saipan as well as articles in the press that no-one should be entitled to hide behind ignorance of how that cheap garment came about.

[emmab]

I have to agree with oliviayamina i'am afraid. I can guarantee that everyone who watched would agree that it was cruel and awful ,as it was. It may slightly dent their sales if enough people watched it, but people will easily forget in time , as it is an issue that will be pushed to one side again . And the access to cheap clothing will far outway a distant memory.

[quikshop]

Primark have signed up to the ethical trade agreement
This clealry states that children workers will not be used, no matter what country the products are sourced from.

This is a retail industry body who's interests are not weighted towards ethical trading.

I've seen these guys interviewed several times including on the Panorama scoop and as far as I can tell its purely a badge for retailers to give the impression of putting ethics along side profit.

Having said that, I see no problem with matching wages to local expectations (often mis-portrayed as slave labour) as long as conditions are at least as good as in their locality.

[sham]

Child labour is incredibly horrible and I for one will not be shopping there again,exploitation of any kind is dispicable.
I am in a trade union called USDAW.The union or shop distributive and allied workers and we covers UK retail shops such as primark,boots morrison Tescos ect they are currently undergoing changes and there is an election on there is a very useful forum called Very Little Helps this forum have had a very big bedate on the subject of chlid labour

[m8internet]

I currently have a five year contract with them, just over three years in to that contract
However, after seeing this report I waited a few weeks and then review the contract
After discussions with management today, we have terminated the contract without notice
It has been agreed by Primark that there will be no financial penalty and we will be excluded from applying for any of their contracts for the next ten years

We have outstanding work for July and August with them which we will honour and complete

This does not affect my own core business or any employees

[quikshop]

Child labour is incredibly horrible and I for one will not be shopping there again,exploitation of any kind is dispicable.

Do you ask Top Shop, Next, M&S, Asos or any other fashion retailer where their clothing comes from and who makes it?

Its easy to jump on a bandwagon but the problem is not exclusive to Primark, and no matter what regulations are introduced or shopper pressure brought about, as long as we demand clothing for low low prices this will continue to happen.

Also keep in mind that the money those children earn might also be the only money their family get, what is needed are realistic expectations from us as consumers and a concerted ethical drive from retail as a whole (not that rediculous ethical trade agreement) - after all if just one retailer puts prices up to cover higher labour costs, they'll quickly go out of business, it has to be industry-wide.

[retailworld]

Do you ask Top Shop, Next, M&S, Asos or any other fashion retailer where their clothing comes from and who makes it?

Its easy to jump on a bandwagon but the problem is not exclusive to Primark, and no matter what regulations are introduced or shopper pressure brought about, as long as we demand clothing for low low prices this will continue to happen.


Exactly - if Primark did know it was happening, then I suspect other retailers would be doing similar stuff. You've also got other cheap clothings retailers such as Matalan, and the supermarkets - they sell at similar prices to Primark.

[Maria102]

I find it astounding that anyone was surprised at the issues with Primark, they sell ridiculously cheaply so someone was bound to be losing out as a result of that, and sadly that would be the most vulnerable. The cheaper shops like that are hideous anyway, TK Maxx would be a better bet for people on a budget as you can buy good quality there at a good price, though still no guarantees as to the cirumstances of their orgin.

[m8internet]

TK Maxx doesn't source its own goods though
Most, if not all, are rejects from other companies

[Maria102]

TK Maxx doesn't source its own goods though
Most, if not all, are rejects from other companies

Yeah, I know I mentioned about the origin stuff though, its just that the quality is generally better, end of line, last season etc. My Alexander McQueen shirt from there was one of my best bargains of the year.