NDTV.com: Workers in lurch due to Primark withdrawal

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Updated: January 10, 2009 04:04 IST

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Workers in lurch due to Primark withdrawal

Madhu Bharathi

Tuesday, June 24, 2008, (Chennai)

Recently, London's top garment store Primark came under the scanner for profiting with child labour in its sweatshops in South Asia.

Following such allegations, the MNC has withdrawn contracts from three companies in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu leaving hundreds of its workers in the lurch many of who are refugees from Sri Lanka.

The workers say it's their own children who live with them in the sweatshops. NGOs 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.

A British NGO has found in its investigations that this is systemic and not limited to Primark.

"Primark has driven the prices down putting more pressure on suppliers to deliver cheaply and quickly. Primark cannot cut and run as they are part of the Ethical Trading Initiative under which they are obliged to take responsibility for the families and educate the children who were dependent on these jobs," said Martin Hearson, Labour behind the label (NGO).

Two documentaries within a span of a week exposing child labour used by suppliers for popular stores like Primark has put sustained spotlight on the garment manufacturing industry in India. It is an issue that is not disappearing from the headlines.

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.

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