Garment, a facility in the western city of Mae Sot, inflicted punishing hours and poverty wages on its employees, trapping them in a cycle of forced labor and debt bondage, according to a letter before action that law firm Leigh Day sent on behalf of 130 workers and one child. According to Reuters . He has cut thousands of jobs as part of a massive cost-cutting programme. It is necessary for the company to demand justice under Thailands judicial process.. All rights reserved. Most workers relied on VKG for their immigration status and some said their immigration documents were held by the factory, leaving them in debt bondage. Tesco, which was not involved in the day-to-day running of the factory, said the allegations were incredibly serious and that it would have ended our relationship with this supplier immediately had it identified [the] issues. In a factory at the Myanmar border in Thailand, hundreds of Burmese workers made F&F jeans for Tesco. In order to uphold our stringent human rights standards, we have a robust auditing process in place across our supply chain and the communities where we operate. The workers made jeans, denim jackets and other F&F clothes for adults and children for the Thai branch of Tescos business between 2017 and 2020. Thai police have brought criminal charges against a clothing factory that was used by Tesco to make F&F clothes, over its treatment of workers. They described: Being paid as little as 3 a day to work from 8am to 11pm with just one day off a month. Intertek said it took the matters that have been raised "very seriously". Oliver Holland, a partner at Leigh Day representing the workers in the UK lawsuit, welcomed the new Thai police investigation. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. The Guardian revealed earlier this week that Burmese workers who produced F&F jeans for Tesco in Thailand reported being trapped in, in effect, forced labour, working 99-hour weeks for. The Thai minimum wage then was 7 for an 8-hour day. She said: The companys rules and regulations are in line with Thailands labour law, with employment and working conditions in line with conditions laid out by the department of labour protection and welfare and customers the company has fought the case with facts and does not plan to shut down operations. Thailands department of labour protection and welfare conducted interviews with former workers at VK Garment factory (VKG) on Wednesday, alongside police at an immigration building in Mae Sot. Workers at VKG sewed F&F jeans to supply to the Thai branch of Tescos business from 2017 to 2020. Tesco had no role in the day-to-day running of the factory and said it would have ended its relationship with the supplier immediately if it had identified issues of the kind at the time. Garment failed to connect, while an email to an address listed on its Facebook page, which has not been updated since 2021, was not returned. "We also note these matters are currently the subject of Thai and English legal proceedings, and therefore we are not able to comment while these proceedings are ongoing.. There was no clean water, let alone personal protective equipment. I felt extremely tired from overworking and the pay was very low, he said. Womens World Cup Stars Pose for CalvinKlein. 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Thai police accused of sham forced labour inquiry at former Tesco supplier, Thai police screen ex-workers at former Tesco supplier over sweatshop claims, Thai police raid former Tesco clothing supplier at centre of sweatshop claims, Girl, 7, raped at Thai factory supplying clothes for Tesco while mother worked, Howbig brands like Tesco are drawn to wild west of global supply chain, Workers tell of sweatshop conditions at Thai factory used by Tesco. No brands own their own factories. Ye Zaw Zo, 31, was an ironing worker on the sewing line and said he typically made about 3 a day. All rights reserved. Interviews follow raid on VK Garment factory, the subject of a UK lawsuit against the supermarket from 130 ex-workers. She hoped that funding his education could change the familys future. However, Tesco and Ek-Chai are accused of negligence "for permitting, facilitating and/or failing to prevent the unlawful working and housing conditions which caused the workers injuries and losses," said Leigh Day. Within the next week we plan to interview 52 Myanmar migrant workers. We also note these matters are currently the subject of Thai and English legal proceedings, and therefore we are not able to comment while these proceedings are ongoing.. She said a worker loyal to the factory went to speak to her parents in August, the day before she was due to give evidence in the Thai labour court, to try to persuade them to tell her to drop the case. "Any risk of human rights abuses is completely unacceptable, but on the very rare occasions where they are identified, we take great care to ensure they are dealt with appropriately, and that workers have their human rights and freedoms respected.". Burmese workers who produced F&F jeans for Tesco in Thailand reported being made to work 99-hour weeks for illegally low pay in appalling conditions. Since 2014, Mae Sot has been a special economic zone, making labour laws less restrictive. Tatiyawongpaibul disputed the previous reports in the Guardian, calling them hearsay. I know it was because I had worked for VK, he said. Tesco considers pulling out of Asian markets, Tesco faces Thai regulatory threat to $10bn deal, World sees hottest day since records began, King Charles to receive Scottish crown jewels, Westminster culture still 'predatory', say staff, Fiona Phillips reveals she has Alzheimer's at 62, Cocaine found in White House sparks evacuation, Indian man arrested for urinating on tribal worker, Israel's Jenin operation reignites Palestinian anger. If we find any offences against the law, we are ready to proceed in order to make justice for everyone., The superintendent said workers had documentary evidence to support their statements and that the investigation was continuing. It is argued that this is all solely for the profit of the companies in the UK, and so that consumers can buy very cheap clothing. Tesco sells its Asian stores in 8bn deal - BBC News The Guardian revealed in December that Burmese. But the department only ordered the payment of severance pay and notice pay. Protecting the rights of everyone working in our supply chain is absolutely essential to how we do business. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. He says while making F&F clothes he often forgot to eat to try to meet targets and earn more, and became sick, once having to take most of a month off with illness and no pay. Tesco: Entry and Expansion Strategy in India - SAGE Journals Tesco's only other overseas stores are in Ireland and in central Europe, including Poland and Hungary. Thai police accused of sham forced labour inquiry at former Tesco supplier, Girl, 7, raped at Thai factory supplying clothes for Tesco while mother worked, Howbig brands like Tesco are drawn to wild west of global supply chain, Workers in Thailand who made F&F jeans for Tesco trapped in effective forced labour, Burmese workers who produced F&F jeans for Tesco, seven-year-old girl, who was raped in accommodation, former workers who spoke to the Guardian about conditions. (modern). I worry all the time about our finances. #288844. Tesco made 2.2bn profits in 2020, the last year that its Thai business used VKG. The claim has also been brought against the auditors, Intertek. Tesco to sell assets in Thailand and Malaysia | Thaiger Like many families, they described being stuck in a cycle of debt. Tesco faces lawsuit from Thai factory workers - TheIndustry.fashion In that case, a Thai court ordered 26 Burmese workers be given $110,000 (90,400) compensation from the factory owner. The supermarket chain has 2,000 stores across both countries, under the Tesco Lotus brand, and is selling them to Thai conglomerate CP Group. Naing Aung Aung, the leader of the Arakan worker organisation, which supports Burmese migrant workers in Thailand, said: In Mae Sot compared with the rest of Thailand there are a lot of illegal factories. It appears [these] likely did not happen in this case, she told Sourcing Journal. Sending money home meant skipping meals. However, Tesco and Ek-Chai are accused of negligence for permitting, facilitating and/or failing to prevent the unlawful working and housing conditions which caused the workers injuries and losses, said Leigh Day. This image has been replaced. Child Rape, 99-Hour Workweeks Alleged in Tesco Factory Firestorm Lotus's Shop Online | online grocery shopping Oliver Holland, a solicitor leading the case at the law firm Leigh Day, said: We are aware that the Thai authorities are today investigating the VK Garments factory used by Tesco to make F&F clothing, including interviewing over 100 of our clients to find out whether forced labour was occurring at the factory. Tesco, Britains biggest retailer, is among a group of companies facing legal action from Burmese migrant workers alleging forced labor conditions at a factory in Thailand that mades clothes for its F&F range. Their hard work, willingness to accept pay well below the Thai minimum wage and a lack of legal rights make them an attractive prospect for factories trying to cut costs. Tesco facing legal claim over worker conditions at Thai clothing factory Law firm Leigh Day said 130 migrant workers are bringing a legal claim against Tesco, Ek-Chai Distribution System Company Limited, which was owned by Tesco until 2020, and auditing companies Intertek Group and Intertek Testing Services (Thailand) Limited. We have enough evidence to prosecute VK Garment and associates, both documents and witnesses.. The workers are also seeking alleged unpaid wages but they do not have much hope that the factory will be made to pay out. The working environment was equally dire, according to the letter. Having to work through the night for 24 hours at least once a month to fulfil large F&F orders, and becoming so exhausted they fell asleep at their sewing tables. The Guardian revealed in December that Burmese workers who produced F&F jeans for Tesco in Thailand reported being made to work 99-hour weeks for illegally low pay in terrible conditions. The social auditing industry is seriously broken and the garment industrys reliance on social auditors like Intertek should end now and they should start to take greater responsibility for their supply chains to ensure endemic issues like forced labor are wiped out.. We were not happy but I didnt have any option other than carrying on with my work. An earlier version used an image that was miscaptioned as showing a protest outside the VKG factory.