Court rejects Zara's appeal over slavery notification
One of the inspected workshops, Aha Indústria e Comércio, is pointed out by Zara to be “the actual employer of persons found working in sweatshop conditions.” .According to the judge, however, all Aha employees were working exclusively in making garments for Zara.(Bianca Pyl//Repórter Brasil)
Courts in São Paulo have turned down an appeal from fashion retailer Zara to reverse its blacklisting with the Labor Ministry (MTE) for employing workers in near-slave conditions.
The company has denied the allegations, arguing that the “ministry had overstepped its role when it cited Zara for employing workers in slave-like conditions to produce Zara-branded clothing.” One of the inspected workshops, Aha Indústria e Comércio, is pointed out by Zara to be “the actual employer of persons found working in sweatshop conditions.”
According to the judge, however, all Aha employees were working exclusively in making garments for Zara. “Zara Brazil Ltda. is one of the leading global corporations in its line of business, and it's hard to believe that it had such loose control over the conduct of its vendors,” he said. Moreover, he pointed out that Aha “reported directly to the clothing retailer [Zara], although camouflaged under the guise of a third-party outsourcer.”
Zara was also ordered to pay attorney's fees of $89,860, 20% of the total case indemnities.
The April 14 update of the MTE blacklist contains 579 names including natural and legal persons. Zara has not yet been included because it can still appeal the decision.
Agência Brasil has tried to contact Zara's press office, but without success.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: Court rejects Zara's appeal over slavery notification
