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Archived Urgent Action
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KAIROS serves on the Steering Committee of the Ethical Trading Action Group (ETAG), a coalition of church, student, labour and non-governmental organizations. KAIROS and ETAG are extremely concerned over the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) lack of interest in investigating documented labour rights abuses at an HBC supply factory in Lesotho. On top of refusing to share any findings with ETAG members and take appropriate actions, HBC is now indicating that it may be cutting its losses and running away from the problem. |
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- For updated information, see the Maquila Solidarity Network website: http://www.maquilasolidarity.org
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Background Information |
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On October 23, 2001, the Ethical Trading Action Group (ETAG) (KAIROS is a member of ETAG's Steering Committee) presented the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) with two reports documenting serious labour rights abuses at an HBC supply factory in the Southern African country of Lesotho. The Hudson's Bay promised to investigate the situation and report back to ETAG on actions it was taking to correct the problems. Four months later, HBC is refusing to give ETAG its report. Instead, it sent a copy of a letter addressed to another organization indicating it may be cutting off the Sun Textiles factory and running away from the problem.
No information. No explanation. No further consultation.
Today, ETAG released a third report documenting continuing sweatshop abuses at Sun Textiles and two additional Hudson's Bay supply factories in Lesotho. The report prepared by the University of Natal's Trade Union Research Project (TURP), at ETAG's request, includes worker allegations of physical and verbal abuse and sexual harassment, emergency exits locked during working hours, compulsory overtime that stretches the workweek to seven days and up to 75 hours, wages lower than the prevailing industry wage of US$51 a month, child labour, pregnant women forced to stand throughout the workday, harassment and discrimination against union members, and firings of workers for wearing union caps.
The three factories profiled in the report -- Sun Textiles, Nien Hsing International, and C&Y Garments -- produce private label and licensed brand clothing for Zellers, which is wholly owned by the Hudson's Bay Company. The factories also reportedly produce clothes for other major retailers, including Kmart, Gap and Sears Roebuck.
To view the ETAG/TURP report and background documents, visit: www.maquilasolidarity.org
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Recommended Action |
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Please write to the Hudson's Bay today. Urge them not to cut and run from Sun Textiles or their other supply factories in Lesotho. Tell them to work with their suppliers to bring them into compliance with local labour law and the HBC Code of Conduct.
Send faxes and e-mails to:
David Crisp, Senior Vice President
Human Resources
Fax: (416) 861-4720,
E-mail: crisp@hbc.com
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Sample Letter |
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(Please write your own, and send copy to MSN.)
David Crisp, Senior Vice President
Human Resources
Hudson's Bay Company
#500 - 401 Bay St.Toronto, ON
M5H 2Y4
Fax: (416) 861-4720
Dear Mr. Crisp:
I am writing in response to reports of sweatshop abuses at three of your company's supply factories in Lesotho. I understand that on October 23, 2001 your company promised the Ethical Trading Action Group (ETAG) that you would verify whether labour rights violations were taking place at the Sun Textiles factory and report back promptly on the steps you would be taking to help improve conditions.
I am appalled to learn that after more than four months, your company has still not shared that report with ETAG, and that you are now giving indications that you might cut and run from the factory rather than work with the supplier to fix the problem. Cutting and running will certainly not benefit the workers at Sun Textiles, many of whom participated in an Hudson's Bay-sponsored audit of factory conditions. Those workers who were brave enough to tell the truth about factory conditions should not be further punished for doing so.
Now that sweatshop abuses have also been identified at two additional HBC supply factories in Lesotho, I would hope that your company would take a very different approach to dealing with those violations. A more effective approach would include consultation with ETAG and the garment workers union in Lesotho on problems identified in the factories and how to most effectively intervene to improve conditions. It would also include public reports on progress made in achieving compliance with local labour laws and the HBC code of conduct.
I would strongly urge your company to make every effort to work with these three suppliers to eliminate labour rights violations, to consult with the Ethical Trading Action Group and the Lesotho Clothing and Allied Workers Union on possible steps to improve conditions at the factory, and to provide regular progress reports to stakeholders, shareholders, the affected workers, their union, and the public.
I look forward to receiving your prompt reply to my letter, including information on the steps your company is taking to address these serious allegations of worker rights abuses, in a manner that does not cause further harm to the workers whose rights are already being violated.
Yours truly,
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