Exploitation in fashion supply chains must end – Labour
Exploitation in fashion supply chains must end – Labour - The Labour Party
- Transparency and accountability must be enforced
Labour’s Workers’ Rights Spokesperson Senator Nessa Cosgrove has called for urgent Government action following reports from RTÉ Investigates which revealed that at least 15 Bangladeshi factories supplying some of Ireland’s major retailers had imported hundreds of tons of cotton fabric in 2024 from companies linked to a Chinese forced labour programme. Retailers named in the investigation include Penneys, Dunnes Stores, Marks and Spencer, and Tesco.
Senator Cosgrove said:
“Today’s revelations are deeply troubling. They show, once again, how exploitation can lurk behind the goods we buy every day in Ireland. It’s time to put it up to big corporations and demand full transparency in their supply chains. Safeguarding human and workers’ rights must be paramount in every company’s operations – yet we continue to see egregious abuses, with millions trapped in forced labour worldwide.
“For too long, major corporations have evaded responsibility for conditions in their supply chains. The fact that some of the most trusted retail names in Ireland are linked to forced labour should shock us all into action. We cannot turn a blind eye to appalling practices in factories producing goods for household names like Apple, Nike, H&M – and now, according to RTÉ’s report, for some of the most familiar shops on our own high streets.
“The Labour Party is committed to tackling exploitation head-on. Our Exploitation and Trafficking (Audit of Supply Chains) Bill 2021, now at third stage in the Dáil, would establish a mandatory register for all businesses, compelling them to demonstrate their commitment to eradicating forced labour and exploitation in their supply chains. The Bill would require companies to report annually on the measures they are taking to ensure ethical practices. This is a critical step toward transparency, accountability and the creation of a fairer global economy.
“With the approval of the EU’s first law obliging companies to take responsibility for their supply chains, Ireland must not drag its feet. We need to lead by example. By prioritising our Bill, the Government can send a clear message that exploitation and negligence will no longer be tolerated. Transparency must be the norm, not the exception.
“The Government must act decisively and prioritise Labour’s Bill in the Dáil. Corporations must be held accountable for their actions, and the rights of workers across the globe must be respected. Let’s take this opportunity to make Ireland a leader in ethical trade, to ensure that no worker’s suffering is stitched into the clothes on our backs.”