Dubai/Hamburg: German-based supermarket chain Lidl, which operates around 8,000 stores in Europe, has been sued by a German consumer rights group for allegedly exploiting workers at its suppliers' factories in Bangladesh.
"The company actively advertises fair working conditions for staff at its textile manufacturing partners in Bangladesh," Guenter Hoermann, the consumers group's CEO, said in a statement obtained by Gulf News. "But they don't hold their promise."
The group's accusations are based on a survey which has been conducted at four supplier firms in Bangladesh. The investigation was supported by workers' rights group Clean Clothes Campaign as well as the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR).
According to the investigation, garment workers in Bangladesh are complaining about "inhuman working conditions". Despite the conventions of the International Labour Organisation only allowing a weekly working time of 48 hours, people sewing in the factories are forced to work up to 80 hours a week, the investigation revealed. If a worker gets sick, he or she is risking their job.
Female workers are paid a basic salary of 16 euros (Dh78.72) per month and are asked to work unpaid overtime regularly.
Talking amongst staff during work shifts is forbidden to curb "agitation", according to the survey. Workers also told the human rights groups that they had "experienced" goon squads.
"Lidl and other discount chains in the western world are putting immense price pressure on their producers," Gisela Burckhardt, a member of Clean Clothes Campaign, said in the survey.
"How can producers [in Bangladesh] stick to social standards when they receive less and less money for it?
"There is a stark difference between the public statements of Lidl and the factual working conditions in the factories," Miriam Saage-Mass, programme director at ECCHR, added.
The groups are convinced that they have obtained "enough facts" to sue the supermarket chain.
Lidl has been presented the results of the investigation, Hoermann said, but has not released an official statement.
The company only confirmed that a lawsuit has been filed but said it wouldn't comment on it.
