Tesco's low pay for overseas workers

BusinessStudent

Just noticed this today:

Employees of factories making clothes for Tesco said their wages were so low that, despite working up to 84-hour weeks, they struggled to provide for their families.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2127242,00.html

uktim29

Why does your post only mention Tescos when there were about 8 other retailers in this report?

Which makes me wonder do you really care or is this just another part of your hate Tescos campaign.

I have looked into this and have found the following:

"In Bangladesh, the garment sector makes up 75% of the country’s export earnings and employs 1.5 million people. Bangladesh is the tenth largest apparel exporter to Canada. Between 1994 and 1998, its apparel exports to Canada doubled, reaching $124 million last year.
Labour conditions

Bangladesh average wage- $1.54/day (US)
Average hours of work- 11-16 hours a day, 7 days a week.

So it's average for them to work 11-16 hours a day 7 days a week for very little.

So lets average that, 13.5 hours x 7 = 94.5 hours. And 75p a day.

I know it's not nice but then it's the third world. It seems you really scrape the barrel to get at Tescos.

And what really niggles me about this is that the fact you've posted this suggests you think it's morally wrong. But yet as I've seen from another post from you in the last week (again anti Tescos) is that you still seem to be shopping there.

Searcher

BusinessStudent wrote: »

Just noticed this today:

Employees of factories making clothes for Tesco said their wages were so low that, despite working up to 84-hour weeks, they struggled to provide for their families.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2127242,00.html

I'm bored now, haven't you got anything better to do?

ceridwen

hi BusinessStudent

I think thats awful - read the article - see it also mentions Primark and Asda as culprits. I think the "official" conditions these stores say they ask for from suppliers are bad - at max 48 hr week, max 12 hrs voluntary overtime. The actual ones - god almighty! I feel a boycott coming on. Certainly wont be buying any clothes from these shops myself unless/until I have some proof from somewhere that their workers are treated fairly. Vote with feet - thats the way to make British shops fall in line.

kennyboy66_2

BusinessStudent wrote: »

Just noticed this today:

Employees of factories making clothes for Tesco said their wages were so low that, despite working up to 84-hour weeks, they struggled to provide for their families.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2127242,00.html

O B S E S S E D

I wonder if you would have commented about this story if Tesco's had not been included. Third world poverty is a real issue & in the main people there are lifted up by employment, but you use it to attack Tesco. How pathetic.

C_Ronaldo

How is this a consumer vent

Timmne

This BusinessStudent person has surely never have actually been a student? I can't believe anyone that's been in education at all can be so unreasonably blinkered in their views!

What a muppet.

RibAd

Fair enough Business Student -once again bringing light to the land of tesco.... although you DID FORGET the other retailers involved. Yet another swipe at Tesco for no apparent reason except you don't like them. Instead of trolling the net for articles on tesco, I suggest you get yourself a new job. (or one at all?) Clearly you have too much time on your hands.

Sadly, if you study business you should already know this. Ever read No Logo? Ever heard of Walmart and all their employees in China? Ever studied anything on ethical trade? Obv not. If you find this acticle exciting than clearly you don't know a lot as similar stories have been reported in the past.

I honestly think you're not a very good business student. Now stop this Tesco thread crap. Please. It's getting very boring and childish.

PBA

While this article only mentions the discounters, aren't "big names" like Nike and Gap also known for using sweatshops to make their products? While from a western moralistic viewpoint it's easy to say workers should be paid more, would you really be happy to pay more for your clothes to achieve this?

grannybroon

I haven't read the article but this has been going for for years with loads of consumer products being produced at very low cost whatever the product is. You cannot just pick out one retailer being guilty of buying goods like this. Is this not partly why Fairtrade is now being promoted by some chains?

GB

azjh77

The only way of ensuring the clothes you buy are ethically sourced is by buying them from a fair trade supplier (ie:- Bishopston Trading,)

At least Tesco & Primark 'pass on' cheaper prices for their clothing..anyone tell me how much a pair of Nike trainers cost these days? Or a pair of jeans in Gap? And how much did the workers get?

While I am no Tesco/Walmart fan, I cannot afford to follow most of my principles and have to use their prices to offset the expensive - but ethical- purchases I want to make.