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Last night Channel 4 pulled the much publicised ‘Devil Wears Primark’ show off air. We are hugely disappointed, as we were eagerly looking forward to the show. We had anticipated some excellent in-factory footage and thought that the use of a mock sweatshop would be an innovative format to spread a hard hitting message on poor labour standards.

Although Primark are being targeted in this show, our research shows that poor labour standards, including poor health and safety, excessive overtime, poor wages, discrimination and even child labour are common place in many workplaces across the world.  These issues are persistent and systemic across all sectors and all countries.  The causes are complex, and include the failure of governments to enforce laws, as well as lack of good management in factories, and problems caused by the pressures which retailers and brands can put on their suppliers.

Whilst Channel 4 blame ‘editorial reasons‘, we suspect that Channel 4 is dealing with some legal challenges from Primark. Hopefully these issues will be resolved and the programme can be shown at a later date.  Whilst it’s a shame that the show has been pulled, we welcome the spotlight that Alexa Chung’s involvement has brought to the subject of labour standards and hope that this is the start of a challenging and informed debate.

I was disapointed that this programme was pulled from Channel 4 – having monitored the growth of this business I have read one or two uneducated comments from the public who know little or nothing about the company – PRIMARK would never have paid C4 to pull the screening of this programme – I’m confident that PRIMARK would have liked the opportunity to present their point of view fairly.
PRIMARK do have an ethical trading policy – and I’m sure that they do everything to conform to working practices and laws set by the EU and the relevant employment agencies in India, Africa, Asia – anywhere in the world.

I have actually worked closely on NGO reports associated with labour standards in the Third World.

And some of the largest steady stream of complaints received direct from the garment labour centres are to do with Primark employees. Many of whom are denied basic labour rights, paid an absolute pittance and afforded no basic human dignity or respect.

If anyone with a modicum of common sense stops to ask themselves: in London, one of the most expensive cities in the world, and a fashion capital…in an advent of hyperinflation and the fashion retail industry elevating costs to previously unseen levels; HOW are PRIMARK able to keep their prices so consistently low?

Perhaps this is done out of the goodness of their generous hearts? Perhaps this is all in honour of the poorer consumer? Yes. That must be it.

[...] news only adds to the pressure on the company’s ethical standards following recent unwanted attention after the cancellation of Alexa Chung’s sweatshop experiment in Covent Garden entitled ‘The [...]

Although I’m sure primark do have questionable standards on production, what about other high street stores? At least primark don’t put a huge mark up on garments unlike other stores do, I’m sure everybody has enough common sense to realise that paying that little means somebody is missing out. Yet do you feel the same when you purchase something from Topshop or Gap for example? I hope if this programme does air they highlight the fact that this is not only applicable to primark!