In response to the news that Boohoo has broken its ethical promise to pay its suppliers a fair price for garments, with realistic timescales, Becky Forecast, Sustainable Sourcing Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation said:
It’s acutely unfair that Boohoo continues to push its suppliers to the brink by making unreasonable demands.
“It’s acutely unfair that Boohoo continues to push its suppliers to the brink by making unreasonable demands. The impact of Boohoo’s behaviour will inevitably reverberate all the way down its supply chain to all actors, potentially including the farmers who grow the cotton, trapping them in poverty, while Boohoo continues to profit from their hard work. This is deeply unfair and exploitative, and we must demand better.
“We urgently need legislation on living wages to protect the millions of people who work in textiles and clothing production around the world, the vast majority of whom are not paid enough to fulfil their basic needs.
Fair remuneration is a human right.
“Fair remuneration is a human right. Fairtrade has been working for three decades towards making this right a reality for workers and producers worldwide. The Fairtrade Minimum Price provides security for farmers and workers, covering the cost for production, ensuring sustainable livelihoods. We will continue to advocate for a fairer fashion industry and for living wages and living incomes for workers and producers.”
ENDS
Photo: Kantaben Charda (back) and Mamtuben Charda (front), Fairtrade-certified cotton farmers picking cotton in Rapar district, Gujarat, India.
About Fairtrade
Fairtrade changes the way trade works through better prices, decent working conditions, and a fairer deal for farmers and workers in developing countries. Fairtrade Foundation is a member of Fairtrade International, an independent non-profit organisation representing more than two million small-scale farmers and workers worldwide. Fairtrade International owns the FAIRTRADE Mark, a registered trademark of Fairtrade that appears on more than 37,000 products. Beyond certification, Fairtrade partners with producers and businesses, engages consumers, and advocates for a fair and sustainable future.