Ethical trading agreement 'has had little impact'

[T_i_B]

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article1902179.ece

An ethical trade agreement signed by some of Britain's leading high-street brands has failed to stop the exploitation of workers who produce the bulk of the products sold in UK shops, a report has found.

Thousands of British and foreign workers employed by suppliers to well-known companies including Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Body Shop International, Gap, Sainsbury's and Typhoo Tea, remain on low incomes, have no union representation and in some cases are harshly treated by their bosses.

The findings are published today in the most comprehensive study to date of the impact of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), which was established eight years ago in the face of public concern over sweatshop and child-labour scandals. Nearly 40 British companies with a combined annual turnover of more than £120bn and more than 25,000 suppliers worldwide, signed up to the agreement.

But today's report, by the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University for the ETI, shows that while some working conditions have improved, in most cases the agreement has made little or no difference.

[Critters2]

1. This exploitation is disturbing!

I've been trying to find a new pair of shoes for the winter, and found it hard to find any that weren't made in China or another sweatshop nation. It was impossible to do so in any bricks-and-mortar stores, but I did find some sites online, and have ordered non-Chinese-made shoes. But it's clear that this is not a concern to most consumers.

We'll pay for this someday.

[T_i_B]

2. What you will find scary...

...is that brands such as Nike are the ones who have the better Labour standards compared to the unbranded alternatives! :wow: The big brands are the ones with pressure put on them to exploit less you see.

I suppose you could try and source some top of the range shoes made in the west, but that would almost certainly cost an arm and a leg.

[Critters2]

3. I found two brands made in the US--

for work, I ordered some Klogs, and just received them. They're actually a nursing shoe available in more colors than white. Comfy! For more everyday wear, I've ordered a pair of New Balance, also manufactured in the US. So, I found some, but it took some looking!