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 that has resulted in a purely administrative process that has already been appealed by Inditex. We truly believe that one claim like that cannot be sustained,” commented the firm’s communication and corporate affairs division to FashionUnited.

The company adds the report also highlights a number of efforts and procedures they have implemented to help further review its supply chain since the first labour-rights violations in Brazil were exposed in 2011. Inditex claims to have carried out over 2,800 audits to Brazilian companies which manufacture their products and can “firmly guarantee the correct performance of this Brazilian supply chain in terms of labour standards.”

The Spanish conglomerate also stressed that its manufacturing in Brazil represents a mere 15 percent of the entire production capacity of the supply chain and finds it “surprising” that the report does not mention any other brands.

“Inditex has not only been able to guarantee that there is no precarious employment among its Brazilian suppliers since 2011; the brand has also developed a more ambitious and innovative plan in Brazil over the last three years, with a view to training Brazilian business owners, combating informal labour in the manufacturing sector, and supporting the integration of immigrant communities,” added the firm.

The company has been working with a number of NGOs, as well as the local public government bodies and has implementing a new initiative in Brazil to help ensure the traceability of its products manufactured named “Fabricado no Brasil.”