to want to shout at Primark shoppers?

[baiyu]

I mean really, just how many shoppers without a conscience are there? There really is no justification for shopping somewhere that treats its garment workers so badly and has continued to do despite years of campaigning.

Primark are thriving in the economic downturn making workers lives worse and worse as they struggle to keep up with orders. Being poor is no excuse, I can?t afford to buy new clothes but I?d rather my few quid went to Oxfam than ABF and their cruel trading practices. So tell me, why do people shop there? The quality is terrible too, how is it a bargain if an item of clothing lasts ten minutes?

I?m not just reading the Daily Mail by the way, researching things like this is my job, the working conditions have NOT improved and it?s just making me angry! AIBU to think more people should care?

Latest ethical consumer magazine research into school uniform manufacturers taking into account a wide range of ethical factors looks like this from best to worst

Clean Slate
National Schoolwear centres
Adams
M&S recycled polyester
M&S faitrade cotton
Next poloshirts
M&S
Matalan
Next
Mothercare
BHS
John Lewis
Debenhams
Primark
ASDA
Tesco

That was the end of 2007 though, since then M&S have improved a lot through their plan A campaigns. I checked today and 3 school shirts from M&S is £5, not too bad by my reckoning. I don't have school age kids yet so maybe I'm way off the mark, I'm sure you'll tell me! I think that companies making a big effort should be encouraged. Demand for fairtrade food bosted the supply so perhaps companies making an effort should be encouaged and then others will hopefully follow suit.

Primark is far from being the only offender, i think we've established that by now! You're all right that John Lewis is a surprising one as it makes a big deal about treating it's UK staff well.

Deptfordwife-thanks for educating me.

NiceGuy2 you're right about the complexities but you're wrong about where I stand.

To be fair looking at that labour behind the label report, it does look as though primark have improved in some areas but haven't implimented a living wage (and they are not alone), well three cheers for some progress.

that report was from 2007

when the article I linked to last night was a report from 2009 which stated that Primark had improved.......(though still pretty dire)

Adams no longer exists.

Niceguy - you're correct in your post, also - as was pointed out earlier in the thread child WORK is not a problem (12-14yr olds up to 14hrs a week economic work is considered ok by UNICEF etc) child LABOUR (and poor working conditions for adults as well) is.

So actually is a 12yr old boy in China/India/Bangladesh spends 14hrs a week working in a clothing factory isn't something to jump up in arms about.

What we want is to campaign to make sure he (and his colleagues of all ages) are paid a decent wage, have safe working conditions and aren't exploited.

Cross post, I just agreed that primark had improved in that labour behind the labour report.

sorry x posted with you there OP

I bet there are plenty of companies who score very highly with their ethical treatment of suppliers who have what we would consider children.........but in those countries are young adults, working for them.

The key difference will be that they're treated properly and fairly and not exploited

I care that my children have clothes and shoes, I care that I need to be able to afford what my children need, in a perfect world no one would buy anything that was not 100% ethical, sadly we do not live in a perfect world.

Oh good, only one place in top half in our entire town

Thought as much!

Tocc - yes I will save the clothes for you(some of which may well be Primark mind!!!) As for the white t-shirt you can keep it as it was a pack of two

I think the general tone of the thread is not 'I dont give a toss about other people'

It seems more like 'I do care and I do what I can but I sometimes have to go to places like Primark'

Personally I would love to buy well made, beautifully crafted clothing. I love clothes.

But if I could spend that sort of money I would feel guilty about it.

I buy loads second hand. But most of the stuff available now is from the very shops that are deemed unethical. So does buying them from a 3rd party dilute this? You may not be putting money directly in their pocket but you are a walking advert for their wares.

I used to buy all free range meat. I cut down on what I bought in order to afford it. Then the prices shot up like a rocket and I just couldnt do it anymore. One chicken for 12 quid? Not possible.

I still buy free range eggs because they are still affordable.

Its pretty hard when you do care but do not have the funds to back it up all the time.

I have been on and off this post from yesterday, disagreeing with op . On another note I am mighty sick of this "my god the teenagers buying 5 cheap outfits" the
outrage of it all!! These teenagers or to be more patronising young people may well have earned their £30 on some shitty part-time job, a bit like my own but unfortunately have not been a teenager in a lifetime. Let them go buy their own clothes, have their independence, spend their money on their choices, build their self confidence. The majority of them aren't fuelling two car lifestyles, flying long-haul, escaping for the odd city break, investing in dodgily mined gold/diamonds!!

prosperous chatterati telling others how to shop is galling.poncey,patronising.and all the think of others war cry,very laudable but what about the low incomes families in uk?

wiggles Said teenagers are probably earning that minimum wage in the UK... would the OP not be better campaigning for a "living wage" in her own country or perhaps that's not on her middle-class ethical radar!

'I used to buy all free range meat. I cut down on what I bought in order to afford it. Then the prices shot up like a rocket and I just couldnt do it anymore. One chicken for 12 quid? Not possible.'

Ah, but deVere, according to the OP, that means serfs like you should not be eating meat, then.

All these uppity people, just not knowing their place! What is the world coming to?!

Maybe she doesn't care about the chickens?

Actually I am a vegimatarian. I care deeply about chickens and their little chicken babies.

Unfortunately the rest of my family only care about how their tender little body parts are cooked, the brutes!

I hang about the reduced section virtually snatching the meat out of the pricemarkerdowner's hands.

I have no shame.

go supermarket for marked down items usually in hour before closing.bargaintastic

I have to admit I don't care where I buy my son's clothes - most have the same label though - 50% off.

I'm the same in the supermarket.

did you really win a wean?a full sized wean,how curious

Yes, but don't worry - it was completely ethical and middle class.

fair trade,artisan wean?i prefer scabbie heided wean maself.

Apologies if my link was the out of date one. I tried to link to the Labour Behind the Label website, not anything specific on it.