US Brands Investigate Charge Of Prison Producing Garments
Various US garment brands and retailers are inspecting their supply chains over allegations that inmates at Cambodia’s largest women’s prison were illegally producing garments for export.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) had written to Cambodia’s ambassador to the US, expressing concerns regarding reports that as part of a rehabilitation program, women inmates at a prison were producing garments for export to the US.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) permits prison labour provided it is not forced. However a US law prohibits global trade of goods made by prison inmates.
Media reports said that four people familiar with the matter, including two former prison inmates, said items produced in the prison appeared to be linked to Walmart and Centric Brands, the licensing partner for IZOD and other labels including Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger and Under Armour.
“Cambodia sets a minimum $200 monthly wage for garment workers, but the women said they usually received about $1.75 to $5 per month,” the report added.
The former inmates said they worked standard hours and made shirts, trousers, hotel slippers and shopping bags.
“Refusing to work often meant being moved to a different cell or forced to kneel, though some prisoners avoided the factories by paying prison guards,” they said.
Cambodia is a recipient of the US Generalised System of Preferences, which grants duty-free benefits to developing nations, but puts it at odds due to the charges.
