Workers of the world unite

I noticed an article in the newspaper a few days ago reporting that there is to be an investigation into pay and conditions at factories in Cambodia working for fashion brands including H&M and Gap. Apparently low pay and long working hours have caused employees to faint from exhaustion, fumes from chemicals, poor ventilation and malnutrition.

This is obviously appalling but it is also a public relations disaster for the companies. They can’t keep getting away with it and responses from the press offices of these huge corporations indicating that they are trying to find out how they can contribute more to wages is nothing less than pathetic.

Before you think I have gone off on an irrelevant rant, this issue is closely linked to the Howard League’s campaign to introduce real work for long term prisoners. We do not want to take work away from people who are paid properly and treated fairly and who work in the neighbourhoods of prisons. We do, however, think that some of the labour that is currently outsourced at exploitative rates could be brought back to this country and given both to local people and to prisoners, all of whom should be protected by our domestic employment legislation. This would benefit companies who would no longer suffer from damaging press coverage and who could save on increasingly costly logistics and transportation of goods.

Fair competition and fair trade would also help workers in countries like Cambodia who should be paid the rate for the job. So please tell your local MP that real work for long term prisoners is a positive step for them, for us and for workers of the world!

No related posts.

February 8, 2012 · Frances Crook · No Comments
Tags: Prisons, The Guardian · Posted in: Campaigns, Government policy, Howard League, Rehabilitation, Work in prisons