Uniqlo not ready to join global pact to protect Bangladesh factory workers

“By not signing the agreement, Uniqlo is sending a wrong message to their consumers that they are indifferent to workers’ safety in Bangladesh,” NGWF president Amirul Haque Amin told AFP.

exactly.

Modern and authorized slavery!

Though slaves were better treated as they were considered as assets by the owners. Now they can just pick new ones for free when these workers die or are seriously sick.

More reason to destroy Uniqlo.

Considering is okay within reasonable time limits, but I'd like to see a list published stating which companies HAVE signed up and which HAVE NOT. Then we could make informed decisions as to where we spend our money. Personally, if it means going without my Heat-Tech and spending a few hundred yen more on a more ethical product then I'll do that.

I like Uniqlo but will not buy any cloth anymore if they do not help to improve the working conditions. Personally I think it should be the government of that country to set the standards.

Greedy bunch!! Profit over people's lives, why that doesn't surprise me anymore??? Consumers should be more conscious about the products sold by big companies!! It will probably be impossible to find a company with a perfect score but with a bit of research we can minimize the amount of money going into the coffers of companies that does not care about the conditions in which their products are made!

Perhaps Uniqlo is betting, cynically, on it having few ethical customers.

Boycott Uniqlo till it falls into line with establishing safety measures as well as higher wages for the workers in poor countries.

Lets face it, no matter how cool, hip or trendy, a corporation is in the end a corporation. Profit first, everything else second. Workers are repressed, abused, put at risk and overworked world wide so that corporate leads and investors can accumulate wealth. You and I make that possible by wanting cheap goods rather than goods that benefit workers too.

We are all to blame for this.

Change your habits. Buy fair trade items. Buy from companies that protect workers and communities across their entire production process.

If we do not do this, nothing will ever change. And is it really worth it to save a few yen on a product made by people who don't care about workers? Or would you sleep better at night knowing you are not contributing to this problem?

WTF Uniqlo.....I thought you were better than this!

Same old in Japan, profits before people.

FR hasn't said they won't, they are just taking it seriously.

It makes sense to read and understand the such a pact and consider any possible ramifications, before rushing into signing just to look good.

Is this pact strong enough? Has anyone read the text of it?

Very well said tkoind2 ! We as a consumers want everything dirt cheap and the companies competing get us there but at the coast of worker's poverty.

Now there are good examples but those companies charge too much for their products. What we are missing is the golden middle - there is too much contrast in today's world.

Most of the people who provide negative comments have no idea what the agreement really says and exactly what it entails.. That's why FR are saying that it is still considering it.... They are not saying that they won't sign.

This is not Uniqlo's problem, it is the government of Bangladesh or similar nations' responsibility. Even if Uniqlo or other companies signs the deal, it doesn't mean anything as the inspection reports will still be managed by the corrupt officials in those countries. Besides, by threatening not to provide contract, they are actually threatening the thousands of workers who can not sustain their livelihood a month without working. What the 1st world nations should do is to pressure the governments of these countries to sort out their act, not the individual companies to give money to some corrupt officials to get a clean sheet of so called safety.

Guess I won't be buying Uniqlo anymore.

Is this pact strong enough? Has anyone read the text of it?

This is the real question. This is a "think of the children" emotional argument, and the pact needs to be evaluated pragmatically. Does it achieve its intentions? Does it give Bangladesh unfair and arbitrary powers? I would have preferred it Uniqlo were more forthcoming with its reservations. There may be legitimate grounds for objection.

I will never forget how the rush to stop children making footballs was reported as actually harming the families and meaning more children went into even worse work. None of these issues are simple. As consumers we should be keeping ourselves informed - and asking questions when we go shopping. The worst thing is a flurry of protests that dies done as soon as the headlines move on to the latest big story. I will be talking to UNIQLO staff next time I'm near a store - and letting them know I won't be buying anything until they give clear answers. I hope we can get clear information about what clothing companies do after this. If they just up and move to the next cheap source of labor (which is what keeps cheaper clothes cheaper onthe whole) it won't do much to help the poor workers in Bangladesh!!