Expect Primark protests this Saturday over 7p worker rates

This weekend there will be protests outside the giant new branch of Primark in Tooting, London, because of the continuing unfairly traded fast fashion and unchanging poverty wages for Primark’s garment workers.This Saturday May 2, activists from the anti-poverty charity War on Want and one of our favourite companies, People Tree, will be handing out leaflets asking for living wages and an end to the exploitation of Primark’s factory workers, outside the new store in London.

The huge two-storey shop will be the base for the protesters, whose main concern is unfair wages, following on from the latest news that the company has seen a 10 per cent rise in profits while it is still being proven that Primark workers in Bangladeshi for example, are only earning 7p an hour for 80 hour weeks.

Safia Minney, the CEO of People Tree says: “Despite Primark’s huge increase in profits, workers living conditions are worse than two years ago and they are having to deal with a huge increase in food costs. Fast cheap fashion has flooded the UK high street but garment workers are not able to fill their stomachs however many bags of fast fashion we buy – that’s the true cost of fast fashion.”  The research carried out by War on Want found that the average workers’ pay of £19.16 a month is less than half a living wage, and that employees’ living standards had fallen since they were last interviewed two years ago.

Simon McRae is the Senior Campaigns Officer at War on Want says that the government need to take action. “Primark is raking in profits and expanding with stores like Tooting by selling clothes which are so cheap because the people who produce them earn so little. The retailer has failed for years to match its claim to pay a living wage with real action. Now the British Government must bring in effective regulation to halt this abuse.” The protestors will be demanding that the government regulate Primark’s abuse of its suppliers so hopefully those in power will notice and act upon this issue when so many people believe it to be unfair.

But it isn’t just the government that can make a difference. Consumers probably hold the most sway in making changes. The protesters on Saturday will also be handing out letters for Primark’s new ethical trading director Katherin Kirk, as it is well known that there is power in numbers, especially when those numbers have the cash. Safia Minney also thinks it is the shoppers who can make a big difference to the way Primark’s garment workers are treated and says ‘consumers can be part of the solution in supporting better practise and Fair Trade fashion.’ So it looks like it really is down to us to make changes in our spending habits to help improve the working conditions and living wages of the people who make the clothes we love.

If you are interested in joining the protest, it will take place from 9am-10am on Saturday 2 May 2009 at Primark, 31 Mitcham Road, London SW179A which is opposite Tooting Broadway tube station.