Major fashion companies, including PVH, the American clothing company (parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, Second Clothing) and UK-based Barbour, will collectively compensate garment workers in Mauritius with US $ 420,593.
This decision follows the exposure of labour rights abuses in an undercover investigation conducted by Transparentem, a US non-profit organisation dedicated to labour rights research.
The investigation, titled I Came Here with So Many Dreams, explores the working conditions at five Mauritian garment factories, revealing indicators of forced labour and various human rights violations. Transparentem engaged with 18 associated buyers, including Asos, Armani, PVH, and Diesel, sharing their findings and recommendations.
PVH, Barbour, and Second Clothing committed to compensating workers at R.E.A.L Garments Ltd., a factory producing Diesel and Armani. PVH pledged US $ 390,456, Barbour US $ 19,523, and Second Clothing US $ 10,614. However, seven brands including Armani and Asos, declined remedial action.
Asos, involved in several Mauritius-based initiatives, endorsed a letter to the Mauritian Government, while Western Glove Works offered US $ 50,000 for worker reimbursement with conditions.
Ben Skinner, Transparentem’s president, stated “Migrant workers showed great courage in bearing witness through Transparentem. To date, only three brands have shown by their actions that they really listened to them. The cost of reform is high. But the cost of failure to reform is higher.”
