Human rights protesters gatecrash Primark opening

Social justice activists protested about the opening of a new Primark clothes store in London this week, criticising the store’s unfair pay of overseas workers.

Protesters from campaign group War on Want gathered outside the newly opened Tooting Primark store on Saturday, and were joined by local residents, members of the general public, and staff from ethical fashion company People Tree.

“End sweatshop slavery”, read the protesters’ placards, highlighting the face that workers who produce clothes for Primark are paid as little as 7p per hour and work up to 80 hours per week.

The average worker producing clothes for Primark in Bangladesh earns just £19.16 per month, less than half the living monthly wage of £44.82 needed for nutritious food, clean water, clothes, shelter, education, health care and transport.

Demands of the protesters included fair wages, more humane working conditions, and better regulation of overseas workers by the British government.

When Primark managers found out about the protest planned for opening day, they decided to open the store a day early.

It was thought that this was to minimise the impact of the protest on shoppers, although Primark said the change of schedule was because the shop was ready to open earlier than expected.

Primark’s owner, Associated British Foods, recently reported a 10% increase in profits for the last six months, up to £122 million.

Safia Minney, chief executive of People Tree and founder of World Fair Trade Day, said: “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.

Primark says it is committed to the ethical treatment of suppliers.