ETI Press Release

Primark joins Ethical Trading Initiative

26 May 2006

Leading retailer Primark today (26 May 2006) joined the Ethical Trading Initiative, an alliance including retailers, trade unions and non-governmental organisations that aims to promote respect for the rights of poor workers in factories and farms worldwide.

Dan Rees, ETI Director, says:

“We are delighted to accept Primark as members. We are steadily building a critical mass of companies that are serious about addressing labour practices in their supply chains.

Says Rees:

“Value retailers can make an important contribution to ethical trade. And the fact that we have a company of Primark’s stature joining us demonstrates a growing recognition that ethical trade makes good business sense”.

By signing up to ETI, Primark has pledged to apply the ETI Base Code across its supply base. The Base Code is a set of commitments covering wages, overtime, health and safety, discrimination and other international labour standards.

Primark has also committed to communicating its endorsement of ethical trade and ETI to its staff and suppliers, to participating in ETI’s ‘experimental projects’ to identify identify best practice in ethical trade, and to reporting annually to the ETI Board.

The company plans to provide till notices for interested customers that set out the company’s commitment to continually improving working conditions in its suppliers’ factories.

The promotional good and giftware business Supremia also joined ETI today. Other corporate members include Tesco, the Body Shop, Marks & Spencer and Monsoon.

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Download this Press Release [PDF, 93kb]

 

For further information:

Julia Hawkins ETI, 0207 404 1643; Email: press@eti.org.uk.

 

Notes to Editors:

1. The ETI Base Code is based on ILO conventions and as such is widely acknowledged as a model code of labour practice. It contains provisions based on the following principles:
   • Employment is freely chosen
   • Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining are respected
   • Working conditions are safe and hygienic
   • Child labour shall not be used
   • Living wages are paid
   • Working hours are not excessive
   • No discrimination is practised
   • Regular employment is provided
   • No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
2. Primark is a retail group in the value sector employing over 15,000 people. It operates a total of 126 stores in both the UK and in Ireland, where it trades under the Penneys brand. It was first established in 1969 as Penneys in Mary Street, Dublin. Primark is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc (ABF).
3. Associated British Foods plc (ABF) is a diversified international food ingredients and retail group with global sales of £5.6bn and over 42,000 employees. Renowned companies/brands within in the group include British Sugar, George Weston Foods, Ryvita, Ovaltine, Mazola and Kingsmill. ABF’s portfolio also includes Twinings Tea, a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, which is a member of ETI.
4. Although small, Supremia is one of the largest businesses in the promotional goods and giftware industry, focusing on the quality end of the market. It sources a wide variety of products (glass, apparel, clocks, watches, bags, footballs, luggage) for promotions by their large client companies.

See also:

ETI Press Room

About ETI: Who we are: Members

ETI Library: Key documents: ETI Base Code

ETI activities: ETI experimental projects