Inditex refutes claims of child labour in Argentina

08 Apr '13

2 min read

Spain-based Inditex, one of the worlds largest fashion retailers, which has brands like Zara and Massimo Dutti in its kitty has expressed surprise and refuted allegations made by Argentina based La Alameda that garment factories from whom Zara sourced its products, employed immigrants and child labour in sweatshop like conditions.

According to The Telegraph, La Alameda – an Argentina workers rights group claimed that workers at the factory were made to start at 7am and work without a break until 11pm, six days a week. The advocacy group also claimed that immigrants and mostly Bolivian workers were prevented from leaving the factories without permission.

According to an Inditex spokesperson who spoke to Fibre2fashion, “Inditex has not been contacted either by La Alameda or the Argentinian authorities. Based on the limited information we have received so far, the workshops in question do not appear to have any relationship with our approved suppliers in Argentina.”

He said, “We are keen to work with La Alameda to understand the substance of their allegations, but we have received no contact from them regarding these claims, nor have we had any contact or complaint from the Argentinian authorities.

Attempts to contact La Alameda in Argentina by phone and mail by Fibre2fashion went unanswered.

The Inditex spokesman added, “Inditex has a zero tolerance approach to any infringement of labour regulations, and our Code of Conduct requires all suppliers to comply fully with all local laws. Our 60 suppliers in Argentina have been regularly audited, with more than 300 audits carried out by Inditex in the last two years."

The CSR page on the Indixtex website says – “Inditex selects the world’s best manufacturers to produce its collections. Inditex Group’s strategic priorities is to ensure the sustainability of its production chain, through compliance with both the Code of Conduct for Manufacturers and Suppliers, enacted in 2001, and with the most exacting standards for product quality, health and safety.”

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

More Inditex News... More Apparel/Garments News - Argentina...