(OTTAWA) Canadian unions have filed a complaint with a federal regulator alleging that Canadian Tire has failed to ensure workers at its South Asian supplier factories are paid a living wage.
The Canadian Labor Congress and the United Steelworkers filed the complaint with the Canadian Corporate Accountability Ombudsman on Monday.
They claim workers in Bangladesh garment factories that supply Canadian Tire subsidiary L’Équipeur with garments sold under brands such as Wind River, Denver Hayes, Dakota and Helly Hansen are paid starvation wages.
Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Center for Workers Solidarity, says workers live in overcrowded housing and struggle to support their families despite working up to six days a week and 12 hours a day.
In her opinion, textile workers earn such low wages that they cannot escape poverty and live “on the brink of misery”.
Canadian Tire pledges to ensure its suppliers comply with all local laws, including compensation.
“As part of our activities to ensure compliance [Canadian Tire] regularly monitors wage rates and works with reputable third parties to audit the factories that make our branded products,” the retailer said in an emailed statement on Tuesday.
Marty Warren, United Steelworkers National Director for Canada, alleges that Canadian Tire’s suppliers violate international human rights standards.
“The women and men employed in garment factories in Bangladesh, like those at Mark’s and Canadian Tire, live in poverty,” he told a news conference.
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