Primark faces another ethical backlash

Just after the launch of Enfashion we reported on the BBC Panaroma programme that revealed the use of child labour used by contractors in India to make some of Primarks popular bargain garments.  Well 6 months later and Primark are in the news again (BBC1 10′oclock News 12th January 09).  The crazy thing is that this time the ethical battle will be fought much closer to home; Manchester in fact.  The news item tonight will expose the practices of Primark’s leading knitwear supplier TNS Knitwear Ltd who are reportedly paying illegal workers as little as £3.50 hour to work in freezing cold conditions.  I would have thought Primark would have learned its lesson after the last exposé but again they claim to have no knowledge of the practives revealed in the undercover filming.  I guess the current economic climate means the line between cutting costs and cutting corners can become very hazy for retailers; especi ally those whose key selling point it cut price goods.

Just before the last BBC airing in July 08 Primark set up its Ethical Primark website as its response to the claims made by Panorama and since then there have been lots of other “in response to” statements.  They have already published a response to the latest BBC news article tonight despite the fact that it has yet to air.  It does appear that Primark are always on the defensive when it comes to questions of ethics.  I think they are well aware that whilst the majority of their shoppers wouldnt want to be buy a knitted jumper from questionable sources they would not give it much more than a passing thought when buying it during the freezing cold weather in a recession.