I find it staggering to see in the media today reports uncovering child labor and slave labor “sweat shops” manufacturing Zara products in Brazil. It is disgusting that global companies, such as Zara, still do not feel the need to understand their own close supply chains and production processes to ensure such criminal behaviour doesn’t occur.
Furthermore, reports quote Zara complaining that they have 50 such suppliers who produce their branded products, therefore it is too difficult to ensure legal, moral and ethical actions throughout the organisation. I am shocked at such a blatantly child-like response to the crisis. It is insulting that Zara feel that consumers would be satisfied with this excuse.
Luckily, with an ever efficient media along with a number of human rights NGOs and other assorted freedom fighters out there, these crimes are becoming harder to conceal. Even better, the negative impact on offending companies is intensifying as consumers everywhere become more conscious, concerned and informed in their purchasing decisions. Marks and Spencer in the UK has been on this bandwagon for a few years now and all evidence suggests this approach is in line with emerging consumer trends. Fundamentally this means Zara will no doubt suffer serious commercial consequences for this organisational ignorance. Other manufacturers take notice.
Further reading
http://www.smh.com.au/world/zara-fashion-chain-linked-to-slave-labour-in-brazil-20110819-1j2c7.html
