Primark… One of the largest fashion retailers in the UK, took the high street by storm when it first opened.
Primark thrives on low price, mass marketing and simple designs. Now, although no one really wants to admit it, we all know it’s the first port of call when we need a new plain white tee, pack of tights and those last minute bits. So how willing are we to sacrifice the shop that offers us an evening dress for under a tenner?
It was revealed in 2008 that Primark suppliers in India had employed firms where the source of labour came from children. From the busy brightly lit shops with rails and rails of clothes, to the bottom of the food chain there were children hands sewing each item of clothing in unimaginable working conditions. With long hours and low pay, the wages of 6 children amounted to less than the cost of one adult’s hourly wage.
Primark acted at a speed which held their place secure in the high street, terminating relations with the suppliers and withdrawing thousands of garments from the store. However this has not solved the problem, this is just a tiny fraction of what is going on in terms of child labour in countries such as India and China as it still continues to be a massive issue.
Is it true that as long as there is a demand for mass produced cheap items of clothing, child labour and sweat shops will forever be in the food chain?
Do stores like Primark have no other choice but to use cheap labour too keep their place in the market?
Even after it was revealed in 2008 that Primark was using slave labour the company sales still rose by 4% and where up by 2% on a like-for-like basis for the second half of its financial year.
Does this mean consumers carry on shopping there simply because they don’t care?
Or is it all down to the price being the main priority for consumers?
We want to know your opinion.
Lets start the debate!
Gabriella
Everything Ethics 