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Beyoncé’s activewear brand 'Ivy Park' responds to sweatshop slavery accusation
Ivy Park, the activewear brand co-founded by Beyoncé, refutes the recent sweatshop slavery accusation launched by British tabloid The Sun.
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Beyoncé pictured wearing her activewear brand, Ivy Park. (www.ivypark.com/-)
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vy Park, the activewear brand co-founded by Beyoncé, refutes the recent sweatshop slavery accusation launched by British tabloid The Sun.
The tabloid reported that Ivy Park's supplier treated its workers in Sri Lanka like ‘sweatshop slaves’ or laborers, alleging that the workers were underpaid and were often asked to work for long hours in unfit conditions.
(Read also: Beyoncé's activewear label now available in Indonesia)
The activewear brand recently issued a statement in response to the accusations. "Ivy Park has a rigorous ethical trading program. We are proud of our sustained efforts in terms of factory inspections and audits, and our team, worldwide, works very closely with our suppliers and their factories to ensure compliance.
"We expect our suppliers meet our code of conduct and we support them in achieving these requirements," the statement continued.
In its report, The Sun stated that the Sri Lankan laborers working for Ivy Park supplier MAS Holdings were only paid £4.30 (US$6.30) per day. “The poor seamstresses who are mainly young women coming from poor villages are afraid to talk in fear of losing jobs”, The Sun reported, adding that the employees were allegedly are asked to work for more than 60 hours a week, with Saturdays shifts and overtime.
(Read also: Beyoncé makes money by selling 'Boycott Beyoncé' t-shirts)
A 22-years old sewing machine operator told the tabloid that she was having a hard time surviving on her basic salary of 18,500 rupees ($127) a month, much less than the country's average of $238.
The tabloid also reported that MAS Holdings did not break any laws, as the existing legal minimum wage in Sri Lanka is 13,500 rupees a month, although activists claim that the actual living wage is closer to 43,000 rupees per month. (kes)
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