According to last week's Sunday Times newspaper, it claimed Topshop were sourcing goods from manufacturers that did not comply to ethical code of conducts and described working conditions as 'slave labour'.
The manuufacturer in question is based in Mauritius.
Philip Green has fought back and assured all standards are up to the ethical code of conduct......
How much do you care about where your purchases are sourced and how they are made and what conditions they were manufactured? Are you all about fairtrade or, couldn't care less?
A large proportion of shoppers seek the best buy and cheapest bargains, but then - surely, u obviously don't consider why your clothes were so cheap in the first place?
It annoys me a little when some people jump to conclusions of 'sweatshop labour' and poor working conditions etc. One has to bear in mind the difference in climate, difference in culture, difference in economy in the country. A mauritian working in a factory producing garments for topshop aren't going to be paid the same as a british worker would be. That's just due to the economic state of the country and the value of money in their country. So of course their pay may sound astoundingly terrible compared with the british pay. But one has to bear in mind the context in which they work.
I know I probably don't know all the facts and the in's and out's and there are probably some factories allowing workers to operate in poor conditions ... but I feel it is necessary for people to look at their own spending before making such allegations.
If you want cheap, affordable clothing - clothes will always be sourced where labour is cheaper ie. china, turkey, mauritius etc etc. If you want more than fairtrade and well paid labourers..... (let's consider you're not only paying for the designer but pattern cutter, buyer, shipping, production of garment and the sales advisors) ...... then save up your pennies for couture darling!
No comments:
Post a Comment