Primark, a fast fashion retailer in the United Kingdom, has announced that it will stop sourcing to Myanmar which has been under a military regime since last year.
The retailer is making a “responsible exit,” in accordance with the Ethical Trade Initiative’s (ETI) independent assessment of human rights and responsible business conduct in the region.
According to the ETI, the Myanmar garment sector is currently not meeting ETI’s typical business standards which is affecting the businesses’ abilities to carry out normal human rights due diligence, according to Fashion United.
In a recently published report, the organization concluded that there was evidence of forced labour in the now military ruled country.
It also urged fashion retailers to cut ties with Myanmar-based suppliers.
Following ETI’s assessment, Primark decided to stop sourcing to the country.
Primark expressed its concern over the situation and noted that, prior to the report, it was leveraging its ethical audit programme and partnerships in the region to monitor its presence in the country. However, it decided to base future decisions on ETI’s assessment.
“As a responsible business, our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of the people who make our clothes and products. We are also conscious of the workers whose livelihoods rely on employment at our suppliers’ factories,” Primark said in a statement.
It also said that it has no option but to work towards and exit which it will do in collaboration with partners and stakeholders in Myanmar.
Primark added that it is currently looking into further measures to be put in place to support workers in its supplier factories as it proceeds.