SOMO news and archive

Child Labour & Low Wages: The Real Cost of Producing Fashion in Myanmar

London - As Myanmar continues to invest in becoming one of the leading garment-producing and exporting countries, a new report shines a light on the growing number of issues emerging in its fashion sector - which includes children as young as 14 working for as little as 13 pence an hour to produce apparel for high street retailers. Fast-fashion...

Business

Leather workers in Pakistan plagued by health issues and low income

London - Leather workers situated in Pakistan, one of the world’s leading leather producers, are suffering from a number of serious health problems according to the latest research from non-profit organizations SOMO and NOWCommunities. In addition, the 500,000 leather workers in Pakistan were found to be paid salaries much lower than the average...

Fashion

Inditex responds to labour-rights violations accusations

Mother company of Spanish retailer Zara, Inditex, has responded to the labour-right violations claims from recently published report from the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations Somo and Repórter Brasil. “With no connection with the Somo’s report, some of the Brazilian suppliers of Inditex are currently facing a labour inspection...

Fashion

Zara fails to protect labourers from modern-day slavery practices

Despite Zara being one of best known and best selling fashion retailers in the Western hemisphere, the label has reportedly failed to protect its most vulnerable employees - the garment workers - from modern day slavery practises. According to the latest findings from Brazilian labour inspector, published by Repórter Brasil and the Centre for...

Fashion

“Fatal Fashion” analyses fires in garment factories

The Dutch Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) and the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC) have published a new report titled “Fatal Fashion” that analysed the recent fatal fires at garment factories in Bangladesh and Pakistan. It questions the blind faith that western buyers placed into local audits after more than 400 textile...