H & M for production conditions in the criticism
Again and again, the Swedish textile chain H & M comes because of unreasonable working conditions in the textile factories in Bangladesh, China or Ethiopia in the criticism. Reporters of the documentary format "ZDF-Zoom" paid a visit to the factories in Bangladesh and talked with trade unionists and workers. "We never finish work before 10pm, that's the earliest," one of them reports. Workers start at eight in the morning, six days a week, sometimes seven. Although H & M's own rules allow a maximum of 48 hours, 80-hour weeks are no problem in Bangladesh.
When the delivery date approaches, some even work until seven in the morning, adds another worker. So does the company exploit its workers with extremely tight planning? H & M's Sustainability Officer Helena Helmersson makes an evasive statement to the reporters: "The topic of overtime is a challenge for the entire industry." H & M continues its well-known strategy: The company thanks for the research results and promises to pursue them. Nevertheless, the chain sees no reason for a fundamental change in production conditions. Why, the group made last year but 1.92 billion euros profit.
But the ZDF reporters reveal another maladministration: the Moderiese pays no cent income tax in the countries where is produced. The subsidiaries in the producing countries coordinate only the local producers. The fashion itself, however, is made for and at the expense of H & M in Sweden. Say, H & M does not make any money in the producing countries and does not have to pay any taxes.
