October 15, 2020
Jockey Factory Partner Accused of Worker Abuses
An apparel industry watchdog group is investigating. Some Jockey products are sold in promo.
An apparel industry watchdog group that monitors factories for human rights compliance and more is investigating an India-based firm that produces items for Jockey and Speedo over allegations of worker abuse. Some Jockey products are sold in the promotional products industry.
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) launched the probe into a particular production facility run by Page Industries in India following a recent Reuters report about alleged issues there and a decision by Norway’s $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund to drop Page from its investment portfolio.
Norges Bank Investment Management’s decision came after investigators for the fund identified at the facility in question “numerous labor rights violations, including verbal and physical harassment of employees and occupational health and safety hazards. The company also seems to restrict employees’ right to organize.”
Page’s facilities are WRAP-certified, meaning they’ve been audited and found to have met standards in human rights/worker safety that align with WRAP’s 12 social compliance principles. Western brands have increasingly looked to partner with certified factories in order to avoid the ethical/human – and, frankly, marketing and sales – troubles that come with sourcing from factories where abuses occur.
Page’s facility that’s under investigation could lose its WRAP certification if the abuse allegations are determined to be true.
“Should the facility refuse to remediate such non-compliances or should the remediation efforts be insufficient, WRAP will revoke the facility’s certification,” WRAP Spokesman Seth Lennon told Reuters. “In case any non-compliances noted prove to be so egregious as to leave no room for remediation, WRAP reserves the right to immediately suspend the facility’s certificate.”
Page Industries has said the allegations are untrue, calling the charges of verbal abuse and workplace intimidation against laborers “outrageous.” The company, which reportedly has 17 facilities in India, said it has evidence that “flatly disproves” the allegations.
Speedo launched an internal investigation into Page Industries in September, noting that its products are not produced in the particular factory where the abuses are alleged to have occurred. Speaking to just-style, Jockey said that it’s “closely monitoring the outcome of Page’s evaluation of these findings to ensure compliance with Jockey and WRAP standards.” The brand further noted that “Page Industries’ track record and long-standing partnership with Jockey does not match the allegations.”
The Page Industries case again raises questions over the reliability of factory audits and certifications, an issue Counselor explored an in-depth report earlier this year.