A young woman who committed suicide while working at a factory that produced clothes for major fashion brands was “tortured” by her supervisors, a family member said.
Under Armor, Columbia and American Eagle have launched independent investigations into Tureza Akter’s suicide I.
The 21-year-old Bangladeshi migrant worker died in November at the Fine Apparel factory in Jordan. Bullying and sexual harassment are common there, and workers are often fined, have their passports withheld and forced to work 16-hour days with no weekends, sources said.
British politicians said the case highlighted the need for stronger laws to protect 27.6 million workers The United Nations estimates that these countries engage in forced labor around the world, often in the supply chains of Western companies.
Ms Akhter’s sister-in-law Ismu spoke to relatives of the worker shortly before she committed suicide in her dormitory. Ismu said Ms Akter suffered “abuse” during her month at the factory.
Ms. Akter’s supervisor “routinely tortured and abused her” and “beat her with a pipe,” Ismu said.
She added that “Turesa used to endure abuse and would often cry on the phone”. Ms Ackert wanted to complain but feared “no one would listen”.
Relatives of Ms Ackert interviewed I by translation from Avaji Foundationis a Bangladeshi organization dedicated to improving the rights and conditions of garment workers.
The factory’s owner, Jordanian manufacturer Needle Craft, said its team “recognizes the seriousness of these allegations” and is working to “prevent any potential future situations”.
“No one deserves to die like this”
On the day Ms Akter died, she told Ismu that she was sick and had returned to the dormitory early.
“Since she was unable to work, the leader beat her again… and abused her a lot,” her sister-in-law claimed. When she advised Ms Ackert to call the police on the phone, she “remained silent”.
Ms Ackert’s colleagues discovered her body later that day.
“I am 100 percent sure that she died because of torture by the leaders… If she had not been treated so badly, she would not have died and would not have thought of dying,” Ismu said.
“No one deserves to die like this. I want to tell buyers and clothing owners that this treatment…should not be [suffered] any other worker at the factory. ”
Needle Craft has pledged to continue paying Ms Ackert’s salary to her family for two years following her “tragic” death. But her sister-in-law said that wasn’t enough.
“Tureza’s family was very poor,” she explains. “Turesa used to run her family. After her death, her family became helpless. How could they live with so many people?”
Need stronger protection
Senior Labor MP Liam Byrne, chairman of the House of Commons business committee, said IThe “hugely important story” about Tureza Akter’s death highlights the need for stronger laws in the UK to “strengthen supply chain governance”.
Mr Byrne said the case was “new evidence” that the Government’s failure to introduce the Modern Slavery Bill to Parliament was “a mistake”. The Home Office said it would continue to “review the case and the timing of legislative changes”.
Crossbench MP Lola Young, who founded the cross-party parliamentary group on ethics and sustainability in fashion, said the inquiry was “both frustrating and exciting”.
She introduced a private member’s bill which included “Duty to prevent human rights and environmental harm” Understand the company’s global supply chain by conducting a due diligence assessment.
The bill is awaiting second reading in Parliament and can be enforced through criminal prosecution.
Baroness Young said: “I’m tired of reading about how these brands ‘take such allegations seriously’, or that sending auditors to inspect working conditions is an effective way of monitoring abuse.”
Call for more action
Scott Nova, Executive Director Workers Rights Alliancejoining Under Armour, Columbia and American Eagle in calling for more action from factories.
He said: “There is a lot of cruelty against workers in brands’ global supply chains, in Jordan and elsewhere. But Connect I The relationship between a culture of workplace abuse and workers’ decisions to end their lives is egregious, according to an ongoing report. ”
Asked what action should be taken, Mr Nova said: “First, Tureza Akter’s family should be given adequate compensation, not the meager compensation the factory allegedly paid, but more; any worker who mistreats or tolerates should be fired Abusive managers and supervisors up to the highest levels; and keep detailed records of all unpaid wages and pay the full amount owed.”
UK campaign group Jay Kerr No sweat Calling for a “radical solution” to industry problems. “For those who thought sweatshops were a thing of the past, the horrific story behind Tureza Akhter’s tragic suicide is a reminder that nothing could be further from the truth,” he said. “IThe detailed revelations about the situation in Jordan show that brands are failing to fix the problem. “
Ayesha Barenblatt from remakeThe group, which campaigns for human rights in the garment industry, said Ms Ackert’s “preventable and heartbreaking death” appeared to be “an unfortunately all-too-common example of modern slavery”.
She added: “The remedial audit actions promised by the brands involved are just greenwashing and window dressing. Instead, we call on Under Armour, American Eagle and Columbia to enter into binding agreements with their suppliers.”
Christie Miedema, activist Clean Clothes Campaign, was disturbed but not surprised by this “tragic” story. She said: “Despite good words about responsibility and ethics on almost every brand’s website, the industry is still based on a ‘race to the bottom’ logic, with extremely low prices becoming the norm, causing wages and workers’ rights to be squeezed. . In the most extreme cases, this can lead to forced labour.”
A manager at Needle Craft said the team was “deeply saddened” by Ms Ackert’s death and offered her “deepest sympathies to her family and loved ones”.
He added that management was determined to “create a safe, respectful and supportive environment for everyone, free of fear and intimidation”.
The workers’ passports will only be retained for visa renewal, he said. To improve standards, the company stepped up supervisor training and recruited welfare officers and psychologists.
Under Armor said it was “deeply concerned” by the “shocking reports” issued by Fine Apparel, which were “completely inconsistent” with its required standards. The statement noted that all suppliers and subcontractors must treat employees “lawfully, ethically and fairly”, adding: “We are firmly committed to taking decisive action.”
Columbia University said Ms Ackert’s “tragic” death was “devastating” for her family and colleagues. It added that alleged breaches of its code of conduct “will not be tolerated” and that a “remediation plan” is being developed.
American Eagle said it takes the allegations “very seriously.” It “immediately” worked with Needle Craft in November to “implement remedial actions” and is “actively monitoring” those actions through site visits.
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