Brazil probes Zara supplier over forced labor

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil probes Zara supplier over forced labor
By Miguel Riopa | AFP – 3 hours ago..

Brazilian authorities are investigating claims that a supplier for Spanish clothing brand Zara is forcing workers to toil in inhumane conditions, a labor ministry spokesman told AFP Wednesday.

The probe that began in May focuses on unsanitary conditions and long working hours endured by workers -- some of them undocumented Bolivians -- in factories in the city of Americana, an industrial town outside Sao Paulo.

According to authorities, the Zara brand -- owned by the world's biggest fashion retailer, Spain's Inditex -- subcontracted its work to the Brazilian supplier Rhodes, which in turn further contracted work out to other firms employing the undocumented workers in "precarious conditions."

Raids on factories in the city have found people working in stifling, confined spaces for 14 hours a day, in "degrading" circumstances, with sleeping quarters above the factory floor, the spokesman said on condition of anonymity.

More:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/brazil-probes-zara-supplier-over-forced-labor-015327076.html

[rabs]

1. Americana, Brazil

Founded by Confederates and their families who moved to Brazil after the Civil War. They introduced cotton farming to the region and used Brazilian slaves until 1888 when slavery was abolished. There are still fifth-generation Brazilians was surnames like Norris, Whitaker, Jones, Smith etc.

Americana became a textile town later. I was not aware Spanish company Zara was operating from Americana now.


Jimmy Carter visits a monument to Confederate soldiers in Americana in 1972.

wiki link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederados

(edit to add link)

[Judi Lynn]

3. No way would most people know this. So glad you've shared it. Amazing.

Would you also post this in the LBN thread? Want as many people possible to see it.

Who would have imagined former First Lady Rosalind's great-uncle was one of the original conferderados? What a mind-blowing bit of information to learn. How sweet they also took their Baptist religiosity with them.

Simply one of the most unexpected things I've heard in ages. THANK YOU.

[rabs]

4. Americana II

Just saw your post and noted you had already done it

Was reading O Estado de Sao Paulo article just now that says Zara is ultimately responsible for the abuse of workers, not the contractors and their sub-contractors.

The Labor Ministry said Zara may be fined 1,000,000 reis (about 630,000 dollars) and put on the ministry's "dirty list" of companies. Being on the list blocks those companies from receiving financing and other government perks.

That indicates that Dilma's administration is not going to tolerate any form of worker abuse or corruption by any foreign (and domestic) companies. You also may have seen that four of her Cabinet ministers have resigned after whiffs of corruption enveloped them. So out they went.

About Americana, learned about the town and its history when I lived and worked in Rio de Janeiro half a lifetime ago. I too was amazed.

[Bacchus39]

5. the defense minister was dismissed for disparaging comments

President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil has replaced her defence minister after he made disparaging remarks about other senior officials.

Nelson Jobim is the third minister to lose his job since Ms Rousseff took office in January - a turnover that has strained her governing coalition.

He is reported to have called one fellow minister a "weakling" and described others as "idiots".



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14414760


it seems corruption is a problem in this administration.

[ocpagu]

9. Corruption is a big problem in Brazil

But it's not exclusive of Rousseff's administration.

The problem is that mainstream media in Brazil (and worldwide, as far as I've noticed) only sheds light on the corruption scandals of leftist governments.

Brazil under Fernando Henrique Cardoso's administration was one of the most corrupted governments in the world. Cardoso bought votes from senators and deputies to change the constitution in order to get re-elected, sold 1/3 of Petrobrás and gave the money to bankers who were his friends, privatized Vale do Rio Doce Company for less than 5% of its market value... yet, Brazilian media portrays him as a saint.

Rousseff's main rival in the last election, José Serra, from Cardoso's party, is another good example of how Brazilian media covers up corruption scandals of right wing politicians. The man has even applied money from the Federal Government's Public Health System in the stock exchange... yet, he's described as an "honest and honoured politician" by our media.

At least, Rousseff is the one ordering corruption scandals to be revealed, unlike former presidents - including Lula, which was a great president, but could have had a little more courage to fight corruption.

[Judi Lynn]

10. Tremendous insights we would not have had without your comments!

What a great surprise it is discovering your new name here, getting the benefit of your point of view.

We watched with the greatest interest the last election, so happy to see Brazil elect this outstanding human being as the next leftist President.

The media always were owned by rich and powerful people who have no interest in providing the truth to the people whose money they take in order to stay in business. They realize their interests are NOT the same as the working class. We have always been deceived, and manipulated, and misled.

The quick ones are the people who realized this at some point and started training themselves to discover the truth by working harder to find it!

What you've said about Brazil's past would have never been knowable to people like me because that information just doesn't get printed here! It is delightful each time there is a breakthrough, and the truth gets through in spite of the great effort invested in molding public perception.

Wonderful getting the chance to see your thoughts. It's very much like breathing fresh air, believe me.

That lack of character does shine through on José Serra's face, the way he communicates with people, the places his mind goes during campaigns. He is a slimy character. It's very good to learn about his REAL record, you can believe it. We just wouldn't know if you hadn't mentioned it.

Welcome to D.U., ocpagu. :hi:

[ocpagu]

11. Thank you, Judi!

That was very sweet of you. I've been following DU discussions for some time before registering and I've already seen some of your posts and I also enjoy a lot reading your opinions. I'm glad I joined DU and hope to contribute bringing a wider perception in international politics the same way you all have contributed to me having a wider perception on US politics.

As for José Serra... he's a scumbag. I live in São Paulo, where he was governor a couple of years ago. His government was paid $ 35 million in illegal bribes to allow a French company (Alstom) to build a subway line. They used second-hand material, which was the cause of an accident in one of the subway stations which killed 7 people (you can read a little bit about it http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Line_4_(S%C3%A3o_Paulo_Metro)">here. A friend of mine lost his house in the accident and is still fighting to get compensation from the state government. During a protest following the accident, he was severely spanked by the police sent by Serra to suffocate the manifestation. This might give you some idea of the kind of person Serra is, and it's just a small sample. He's quite a gangster with facist leanings.

[rabs]

12. Thanks for confirming Dilma's uprooting corruption

Saw this couple of days ago, from Correio Braziliense - 17/08/2011

Questionada sobre qual era o grande obstáculo de sua gestão no combate à corrupção, Dilma declarou: "Meu maior objetivo é desenvolver o país e distribuir renda. O resto, faço por ossos do ofício".

(Asked what was the biggest obstacle in her plan to fight corruption, Dilma said, "My main objective is the development of the nation and the distribution of wealth. The rest is just part of the job.")

Bemvinda to the Latin American Forum. Looking forward to news from Brazil.

[ocpagu]

13. Thank you, rabs!

I'll try to bring Brazil more often in the news board.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Dilma Rousseff is establishing a notable presence already. More power to her.

If you hadn't told us about Americana, it's very doubtful we would have ever known! Thanks, again.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Clothing giant Zara implicated in Brazilian slave labour scandal

Clothing giant Zara implicated in Brazilian slave labour scandal
Aug 17, 2011, 16:51 GMT

Rio de Janeiro - Spanish clothing giant Zara has been implicated in a slave labour scandal in Brazil, after a report that it had bought items made by Bolivian and Peruvian immigrants in illegal working conditions.

The case was made public late Tuesday by Brazilian television network Band, whose reporters accompanied Labour Ministry personnel when they rescued 15 people working in degrading conditions in two clandestine workshops in Sao Paulo. They were working for the firm AHA, a supplier for Zara.

According to the report, a similar raid had freed 52 workers, mostly Bolivians, in similar conditions in May in Americana, in the state of Sao Paulo.

All workers had been recruited in their home countries with promises of a better life in Brazil. Once in Sao Paulo, they were made to work up to 16-hour days for wages below Brazil's legal minimum (about 340 dollars a month). Employers also deducted from wages the cost of travelling to Brazil and living costs, which according to the Labour Ministry constitutes enslavement to pay off debt.

More:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/business/news/article_1657539.php/Clothing-giant-Zara-implicated-in-Brazilian-slave-labour-scandal

[naaman fletcher]

7. bummer

As I mostly wear Zara clothes.

Basically the are Hugo Boss at 33% of the price.

[rabs]

8. Zara: "Sorry, won't do it again."

In a statement, Zara’s representatives said that the accusations of slave-labor made against the retailer represent a “serious breach in accordance with the Code of Conduct for External Manufacturers and Workshops of Inditex.” They also countered that all factories responsible for unauthorized outsourcing have been asked to regularize immediately the situation of the workers involved. “The Inditex group, along with Brazil’s Ministry of Work, will strengthen the supervision of the production system of all its suppliers in the country to ensure that such cases do not occur again.”




The number of Zara stores in each country, as of 30 April 2011:<25>

Spain: 334 stores (161 with Zara Kids)
France: 114 stores (4 with Zara Kids)
Italy: 85 stores (12 with Zara Kids)
China: 73 stores
Japan: 67 stores
Germany: 65 stores
United Kingdom: 64 stores
Portugal: 61 stores (22 with Zara Kids)
Mexico: 51 stores
Russia: 50 stores (42 with Zara Kids)
United States: 49 stores
Greece: 47 stores (6 with Zara Kids)
Poland: 33 stores
Brazil: 31 stores
Turkey: 28 stores
Belgium: 27 stores
South Korea: 27 stores
Saudi Arabia: 24 stores
Canada: 21 stores
Israel: 19 stores
Netherlands: 18 stores
Romania: 13 stores
Austria: 12 stores
Colombia: 10 stores (3 with Zara Kids)
Indonesia: 10 stores
Switzerland: 10 stores
Argentina: 9 stores
Ireland: 9 stores
United Arab Emirates: 9 stores
Croatia: 8 stores
Sweden: 8 stores
Venezuela: 8 stores
Chile: 7 stores
Singapore: 7 stores
Ukraine: 7 stores
Morocco: 6 stores
Czech Republic: 6 stores
Hungary: 6 stores
Malaysia: 6 stores
Philippines: 6 stores
Bulgaria: 5 stores
Cyprus: 5 stores
Kuwait: 5 stores
Lebanon: 5 stores
Slovenia: 5 stores (4 with Zara Kids)
Thailand: 5 stores
Finland: 4 stores
India: 4 stores
Latvia: 4 stores
Lithuania: 4 stores
Serbia: 4 stores
Egypt: 3 stores
Australia: 3 stores
Norway: 3 stores
Australia: 2 stores
Bahrain: 2 stores
Costa Rica: 2 stores
Denmark: 2 stores
Dominican Republic: 2 stores
El Salvador: 2 stores
Estonia: 2 stores
Guatemala: 2 stores
Honduras: 2 stores
Iceland: 2 stores
Jordan: 2 stores
Kazakhstan: 2 stores
Luxembourg: 2 stores
Panama: 2 stores
Qatar: 2 stores
Slovakia: 2 stores
Syria: 2 stores
Uruguay: 2 stores
Tunisia: 1 store
Algeria: 1 store
Andorra: 1 store
Malta: 1 store
Monaco: 1 store
Montenegro: 1 store
Oman: 1 store
Puerto Rico: 1 store