Following intense public scrutiny in recent years, Primark has tried hard to demonstrate ethical trading practices. It even has an entire section of its website dedicated to this. However, nice statements are clearly not enough.
After the collapse of a Bangladeshi factory in which over 500 people died, it has become obvious that the conditions in the industry are still intolerable and safety standards inadequate or non-existent.
This factory supplied Primark and other major discount retailers, including Walmart in the USA, and these retailers must take some of the responsibility for entirely preventable deaths.
Negligence on this scale is not something that ever should be tolerated in the pursuit of profit. Tell Primark that fine statements online are not nearly enough. It must stop making excuses and ensure all its suppliers meet basic safety standards.
We the undersigned, many of whom are longstanding Primark customers, ask that you take immediate action to ensure that all your suppliers meet basic standards on safety and workers’ rights. The entirely preventable deaths of over 500 people in a Bangladesh factory show just how serious and urgent this issue has become.
Outsourcing to factories in cheaper countries produces Primark’s impressive profit margins. This is understandable, but there is absolutely no need that this go along with a complete disregard for the rights and lives of factory workers.
We ask that Primark insists that all its suppliers meet the safety standards that would be required here. An EU company should insist on EU standards on safety and human rights and not turn a blind eye to negligence or abuse in its pursuit of profit. Please take immediate, concrete steps to remedy the situation.
Thank you for your attention.
