Seeing the situation in Myanmar which is quite alarming as far as the condition of workers is concerned the group has decided to stop sourcing from Myanmar.
Primark adds that as a responsible business its first priority is the safety and wellbeing of the people that make its clothes and it is conscious of the workers whose livelihoods rely on employment at its supplier factories.
While it has leveraged the strength of its ethical audit programme and its longstanding relationships and partnerships on the ground to monitor for compliance with its Code of Conduct, the recent “unpredictability of the environment” means it is now taking guidance on its future operation in the country from Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI)’s independent, evidence-based assessment on human rights and responsible business conduct within the country.
Following a damning report from the Ethical Trade Initiative published earlier this week and evidence-based assessment on human rights and responsible business conduct within the country had pushed the company to take such a drastic step.
Earlier this week, the ETI urged garment brands and retailers sourcing from Myanmar to reassess their presence in the country after a report found human rights violations are taking place.
The report found ETI’s Base Code standards, a set of workers’ rights standards that are a global reference for responsible business practice, are not being met, with the ETI saying it is not possible for businesses to apply normal human rights due diligence in Myanmar.
“The ETI report makes for very difficult reading and shows there has been a significant deterioration in the situation in Myanmar. This poses significant challenges to our ability to ensure the standards we require to protect the safety and rights of the people who make our clothes and products,” Primark said in a update.
