Today march 12, campaigners around Europe tell Hugo Boss to stop the labour violations in factories in Turkey and Croatia. The actions coincide with Hugo Boss’ press and analysts’ conference in Metzingen where the company announces its financial results.
About half of Hugo Boss clothes are made in factories in Europe. A report from campaigning organisation Clean Clothes Campaign, Stitched Up, published in 2014, showed the huge gap between the actual wages of garment workers and a living wage. Most workers earn below the poverty line. Moreover workers reported union busting, intimidation, no observance of overtime regulation and sexual harassment.
„I respect the company, I respect my work, why don’t they respect me? Hugo Boss so far does not act responsibly“, says a Turkish Hugo Boss worker.
While some workers at a Turkish Hugo Boss supplier earned 326 EUR in average including overtime and bonusses, the national poverty threshold would be 401 EUR and a minimum living wage 890 EUR. Moreover, workers who joined a union were mobbed and fired; workers reported frequent shouting and intimidation; overtime regulations are not observed; women are sexually harassed.
Bettina Musiolek from Clean Clothes Campaign says: «Made in Europe“ should mean that workers escape from poverty and do not have to be afraid to join a union. But on the contrary: «Made in Europe“ creates poverty and prevents people from exercising their political freedoms. Hugo Boss can and should step up to put an end to these gross violations. A real BOSS pays a living wage.»
