Primark pullout creates controversy and threatens workers’ livelihoods
An hour-long TV special about London’s top garment store Primark was watched by 4.2 million viewers in Great Britain this Monday (June 23rd).
According to the programme maker, the BBC, the programme was put into the schedule earlier than planned after statements from Primark referring to its content appeared in the press. Primark’s public statements were a response to questions put to the company by the corporation, it said.
Primark came under the BBC’s scanner for profiting with child labour in its sweatshops in South Asia. Following these allegations, they have withdrawm contracts from three companies in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu for “breaking their code of conduct”, leaving hundreds of its workers in the lurch many of whom are refugees from Sri Lanka.
However the workers say it’s their own children who live with them in the sweatshops and are blaming Primark for violating ethical trade by running away.
”After school hours many children come here to watch TV. We sit in one corner and stitch and they sit next to us. They could have taken pictures then. Please tell this to businessmen. Our children don’t work here at all,” said a worker.
Primark in its code of conduct says none of their suppliers is permitted to use working from home. But the fallout of the company cancelling business with some exporters has put the livelihood of many at stake.
Another UK broadcaster, Channel 4, is yet to show its own documentary about the clothing retailer, The Devil Wears Primark, which was recently pulled from its schedule as it “was not ready to be broadcast”.
