Latest news with #laborexploitation
South China Morning Post
24-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Man tied to bricks, lifted by forklift: fury in South Korea over ‘horrific' abuse
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday condemned the alleged abuse of a migrant worker at a brick factory, calling it a 'blatant violation of human rights' and pledged stronger protection for vulnerable groups. His remarks came a day after migrant rights activists urged authorities to punish those involved in the incident, which was captured in video footage that circulated online this week. 'I could hardly believe my eyes after watching the video. It is unimaginable that such an incident could occur in a country known as a global cultural powerhouse and a model of democracy,' Lee wrote on Facebook. He described the act as 'an unacceptable act of violence against minorities and the vulnerable'. 'We will ensure that no one suffers from human rights abuses or labour exploitation due to their unstable status,' the president added, calling on relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of Employment and Labour, to take swift action. A Sri Lankan worker is seen tied to a forklift at a brick factory in Naju, South Korea. Photo: Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network The Gwangju Jeonnam Migrant Workers' Human Rights Network on Wednesday released video footage showing a man in his 30s from Sri Lanka tied to bricks with cling film and lifted by a forklift at a factory in Naju, South Jeolla province.
CNN
21-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Dior to pay $2.3 million to help victims of labor exploitation after investigation in Italy
Dior has agreed a number of remedies to settle an Italian competition authority investigation into whether the luxury brand and two of its units misled consumers with their statements about working conditions at its suppliers. The antitrust body said Wednesday that the pledges made by Dior, which is owned by LVMH, were an appropriate remedy for the possible unlawfulness and decided to close the investigation 'without establishing any infringement.' Dior's commitments include paying €2 million ($2.3 million) over five years to support initiatives aimed at helping victims of labor exploitation. Last year prosecutors in Milan uncovered workshops where underpaid workers, often immigrants who were in the country illegally, produced leather bags then sold to Dior and Armani for a tiny fraction of their retail price. This led Italy's antitrust investigation to open an investigation into whether the luxury brands had misled consumers, focusing on the discrepancies between the reality uncovered by the judicial labor probes and the messages from brands to consumers in terms of craftsmanship and corporate social responsibility. Among the remedies, Dior also committed to making changes to its ethical and social responsibility statements and to adopting stricter procedures to select and monitor suppliers, the authority said Wednesday. In a separate statement, the company said: 'Dior partnered closely with the Authority to define a robust set of commitments that increase transparency and strengthen oversight throughout its supply chain.' Italian consumer group Codacons said the investigation's outcome was too lenient, given the small size of the financial commitments and the fact that no fine was handed down. Last year prosecutors appointed commissioners to oversee Dior and Armani's units that outsourced the handbag production, to ensure they fix their supply chain problems. The special administration regime was lifted earlier this year. Last week, an Italian court placed a unit of fashion brand Valentino under judicial administration for a year after uncovering worker abuse inside its supply chain.
Asharq Al-Awsat
21-05-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Italy's Antitrust Body Closes Dior Probe with Pledges to Fund Fight Against Labor Exploitation
Italy's antitrust body has closed its investigation into whether LVMH-owned Dior and two of its units misled consumers with their statements about working conditions at its suppliers, saying the firm had made pledges though no wrongdoing was found. Dior's commitments include paying 2 million euros ($2.3 million) over five years to support initiatives, open also to other brands, aimed at helping victims of labor exploitation, Reuters reported. Dior also committed to making changes to its ethical and social responsibility statements and to adopt stricter procedures to select and monitor suppliers, the authority said on Wednesday. Last year prosecutors in Milan uncovered workshops where underpaid workers, often immigrants who were in the country illegally, produced leather bags then sold to Dior and Armani for a tiny fraction of their retail price. This led Italy's antitrust investigation to open an investigation into whether the luxury brands had misled consumers. Italy's antitrust authority said it was focusing on the discrepancies between the reality uncovered by the judicial labor probes and the messages from brands to consumers in terms of craftsmanship and corporate social responsibility. Last year prosecutors appointed commissioners to oversee Dior and Armani's units that outsourced the handbag production to ensure they fix their supply chain problems. The special administration regime was lifted earlier this year. Last week, an Italian court placed a unit of fashion brand Valentino under judicial administration for a year after uncovering worker abuse inside its supply chain, in the latest in a string of cases that have tainted the image of luxury brands.
