Dirty Secrets
The American lingerie brand Victoria's Secret is hit by a labor scandal--again.
Also in this issue:
Greening up the World Cup
Alexander McQueen goes home
Earlier this month, the Global Labor Justice (GLJ), Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA), and the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), published an open letter to Victoria’s Secret shareholders recounting the death last fall of Paramasivam Pushpalatha, a 45-year-old garment worker at a factory operated by Victoria’s Secret supplier Brandix in Sri Lanka. According to worker testimonies, Ms. Pushpalatha fell ill during her shift, was denied leave, and then died on the job.
The story gets worse: When a female labor organizer later distributed information about the case outside the factory, a group of men dressed in Brandix-branded clothing surrounded her and threatened to rape and kill her.
And worse: When members of Ms. Pushpalatha’s family complained about her death, they allegedly were similarly threatened. Worker testimony, police reports, and affidavits regarding the incidents have been submitted to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission.
