News0 min ago
Panorama Primark
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If they shut all the factories because of the child labour it will put people out of work so I don't see the point. Why dont they name and shame the other shops that use child labour in India, are they digging out Primark because it is so successful ?
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No best answer has yet been selected by smurfchops. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.No, they're digging them out because they have proof on them.
Where do people think their �1.50 tee shirts come from?
We all turn a blind eye but no-one can earn a real living working for a company that can sell and export to Europe at that price - bear in mind the cost of raw materials, the factory making profit, paying taxes, shipping to Europe, paying excise charges, and Primark's profits,costs such as corporation taxes, wages etc and add in VAT...
Where do people think their �1.50 tee shirts come from?
We all turn a blind eye but no-one can earn a real living working for a company that can sell and export to Europe at that price - bear in mind the cost of raw materials, the factory making profit, paying taxes, shipping to Europe, paying excise charges, and Primark's profits,costs such as corporation taxes, wages etc and add in VAT...
This is not the Channel 4 documentary "The Devil Wears Primark" which was pulled from the schedules 3 weeks ago but the BBC's version, the existence of which apparently led to the Ch4 scheduling debacle...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/03/ch annel4.television
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/jun/03/ch annel4.television
But it will be like with Jamie Oliver and his 'expose' of battery hen farming.......there are just too many who either don't care......or who cant afford to buy more expensive,ethically produced goods.....If all the workers in Primark's Indian factories were paid a decent wage,and worked only the hours specified-48 per week-then that �1.50 t-shirt would sell for �10 instead.
I bsawit here earlier as i get london bbc thru satellite.
Gotta agree with satan.The women and guys buying these clothes were they retarded or just blinkering themselves to where these clothes were made and how?
Its the old story folk in the west dont care as long as its cheap.Ethics are like a badeg folk wear i think.Because next week theyll buy something and say , but they get double the wage sof primark workesr.
The show was shocking young kis stiching beads on clothes for a pittance of a pittance.
Thats my final word on it.
Buy frrom primark and know they exploit.The shops will still be full tomorrow.
Gotta agree with satan.The women and guys buying these clothes were they retarded or just blinkering themselves to where these clothes were made and how?
Its the old story folk in the west dont care as long as its cheap.Ethics are like a badeg folk wear i think.Because next week theyll buy something and say , but they get double the wage sof primark workesr.
The show was shocking young kis stiching beads on clothes for a pittance of a pittance.
Thats my final word on it.
Buy frrom primark and know they exploit.The shops will still be full tomorrow.
-- answer removed --
This has been going on for absolutely years and it will never change because there is demand for dirt cheap clothing.
I worked in the fashion industry from 1990 until 2002 and companies like C&A were using factories employing child labour. Some companies now operate an ethical policy, where they send inspectors out to their foreign manufacturers, but I think it's purely for show, so they are publicly seen to be ethical.
Primark buy in mass bulk and in order to do this, they need the cheapest prices possible, so to do this, they need to pay manufacturers a pittance, child labour is probably the only way the factories can make a reasonable profit.
The only way to stamp out this immoral trade, is for the western customer to boycott these stores, but as we live in the uncaring west and we can turn the other cheek, why would any of us give a damn that a 5 year old is sewing plastic beads on a top we can buy for �3.
I worked in the fashion industry from 1990 until 2002 and companies like C&A were using factories employing child labour. Some companies now operate an ethical policy, where they send inspectors out to their foreign manufacturers, but I think it's purely for show, so they are publicly seen to be ethical.
Primark buy in mass bulk and in order to do this, they need the cheapest prices possible, so to do this, they need to pay manufacturers a pittance, child labour is probably the only way the factories can make a reasonable profit.
The only way to stamp out this immoral trade, is for the western customer to boycott these stores, but as we live in the uncaring west and we can turn the other cheek, why would any of us give a damn that a 5 year old is sewing plastic beads on a top we can buy for �3.
So why do other clothes shops who sell use child labour to make cheap clothes not get mentioned? What other labels were they making clothes for? How about Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys, New Look, Mark Two, even possibly M&S etc. etc. I dont agree with it, but I wont stop buying at Primark . Just make their working conditions better, and if they stop child labour, what will happen to the kids? Do they really think the kids will start going to school, instead of bringing in a wage? Perleeease ! Get real. They need the money.
French Connection were doing it for years, but still charging ridiculous amounts for its clothes. They would import a shirt for say �1.50 then put it in the shop for �75. I am pretty certain this hasn't changed much since I worked there.
Primark has been singled out because it caters for the less well off. And they should know better of course.
Just because it is cheap or expensive, you still have no real idea of who is getting what for what, so you may as well get off the soapbox.
Primark has been singled out because it caters for the less well off. And they should know better of course.
Just because it is cheap or expensive, you still have no real idea of who is getting what for what, so you may as well get off the soapbox.
Unfortunately, I missed it. However Smurfchops' question is one that seems to be under constant debate. You know, at least the workers are earning something whilst the factories and the shops make money out them.
On the other hand, if you want goods of a similar quality made in the UK or in Western Europe, you'd have to pay good money for them. Hand-decorated clothing doesn't come cheap, which is why all the major British suppliers have long since gone bust. With fewer jobs, there's less money around and so people want cheaper clothing - hey presto - Primark et al (although the quality in this case is debateable).
There's also the fact that children are having to make these items in order to support their families. Helping out with your family business is one thing, but having to work a twelve hour day when you're five, just so that your family can afford to eat ... . If factory owners were made to pay a decent rate, they'd only need to employ adults. The children could then receive an education and go on to become better employees and employers, and everyone benefits.
There was a time when people bought foreign made goods because they were just that - foreign, a little different, a little exotic. These days they buy them because they're cheap - and that includes all those major high street names who are just as guilty as Primark, only they hide behind 'quality'.
On the other hand, if you want goods of a similar quality made in the UK or in Western Europe, you'd have to pay good money for them. Hand-decorated clothing doesn't come cheap, which is why all the major British suppliers have long since gone bust. With fewer jobs, there's less money around and so people want cheaper clothing - hey presto - Primark et al (although the quality in this case is debateable).
There's also the fact that children are having to make these items in order to support their families. Helping out with your family business is one thing, but having to work a twelve hour day when you're five, just so that your family can afford to eat ... . If factory owners were made to pay a decent rate, they'd only need to employ adults. The children could then receive an education and go on to become better employees and employers, and everyone benefits.
There was a time when people bought foreign made goods because they were just that - foreign, a little different, a little exotic. These days they buy them because they're cheap - and that includes all those major high street names who are just as guilty as Primark, only they hide behind 'quality'.
Hmmm, we're nearly all guilty of buying cheaper clothes. Whilst I don't personally like the idea of small children making my clothes for a pittance, my 'clothes allowance' dictates otherwise i'm afraid.
I seem to recall Legend saying he has bought a few Croc shoe replicas- where does he think these are made???
I seem to recall Legend saying he has bought a few Croc shoe replicas- where does he think these are made???
I maybe shot down here, but this is my opinion on the matter. This has always gone on in India and I think always will. I do feel that the children should be in school or playing and being a child, but to be frank, if it wasn't Primark it would be another Company, so don't feel that by boycotting a store, it will make one iota of difference. The factories have laws to prevent child labour, but when the factores sub contract the work out, the companies really don't know who is doing the work, so it is the system in India that is at fault. I know that the children are paid very poorly, but as the families are usually so poor that there is no chance of a normal childhood with schooling etc, is it better that they are least earning something rather than facing starvation.