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BEYONCÉ’S SPORTSWEAR range for Topshop, Ivy Park, is made by sweatshop workers who earn as little as £4.30 (about €5.45) a day, a British newspaper has claimed.
The Sun on Sunday is reporting that seamstresses making some of the clothes in the range earn just 44p (about 55c) an hour.
The newspaper spoke to workers in an MAS Holdings factory in Sri Lanka which supplies some of the range’s garments.
The newspaper says many of the seamstresses, mostly young women from poor rural villages, work more than 60 hours a week.
MAS is owned by Sri Lankan tycoon Mahesh Amalean and his two brothers. It employs 74,000 workers in 48 factories across Asia.
The Sun notes that MAS is not breaking any laws as all workers are paid more than the legal minimum wage of 13,500 rupees (about €80) a month. However, human rights campaigners say a living wage is closer to 43,000 rupees (€260).
Jakub Sobik, from the charity Anti-Slavery International, compared the conditions the workers face to “slavery”.
Ivy Park response
Ivy Park is described as activewear brand “made for women who want to look and feel at the top of their game”.
One machinist reportedly told the Sun: “When they talk about women and empowerment this is just for the foreigners. They want the foreigners to think everything is OK.”
A Topshop spokeswoman told the newspaper:
Ivy Park has a rigorous ethical trading programme. We expect our suppliers to meet our code of conduct and we support them in achieving these requirements.
A statement by Ivy Park added: “We are proud of our sustained efforts in terms of factory inspections and audits, and our teams worldwide work very closely with our suppliers and their factories to ensure compliance.”
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Del boy had them ordered after the last push… lovely jublee
I always find these things bizarre, verging on tacky.
I can only presume that for a lot of people they allow them to feel part of the whole ‘royalty’ experience – a familiar solid thing which the world is rapidly losing these days.
Everyone to their own.
‘Verging on’? They’re the definition of tacky.
Of course it is tacky the same as most things in souvenir shops, but that is what the tourists spend their money on to bring home for the mother in law.
And the Journal will be giving a free Princess Charlotte mug to anyone getting over 1000 green thumbs for the rest of the month. Don’t know why they forgot to mention it in the article.
Made in China
Probably made in London if the royal appointment calendar is correct !!
Probably Liverpool if you read the article.
True and just before the Asian mid-may invasion
FG HQ have a thousand on order .
What mug of an editor sanctioned this piece of drivel.
There is also a Prince Harry condiment on sale to be used when buttering up crumpet
Mugs for the mugs!
Any Irish person with these in their home should be ashamed!
It’s 2015 not 1982.
Well it wouldn’t be a Royal non-event without china tat
You’d have to be a mug alright.
Pathetic
This just in, they’ve just changed her nappy and have brought her to the kitchen. More vital updates later.
BREAKING NEWS – Baby has just vomited over the servant… Gets disapproving tuts from William
They loik tha’ they do
We are obviously missing a trick here but then I couldn’t imagine a mug with Enda &Joan, but if it sells then why not…..
I really wouldn’t be that surprised to see a mug commemorating the success of Irish Water with a picture of Enda & Joan hugging each other on it.
Typical FG spin approaching the general election!
And don’t you know the handle would be on the inside….
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