Asda and Primark probe factories claim

Updated 08.45 Mon Jul 16 2007
Keywords: Bangladesh, Primark, Tesco, Asda

Tesco and Asda are investigating claims that workers who make their clothes in Bangladesh are being exploited.

The supermarket firms said they are looking into the allegations from a newspaper report which revealed employees are being forced to work up to 80 hours a week for as little as 4p an hour.

Asda said it may audit its suppliers

The also said they were refused access to trade unions, claiming four colleagues had been sacked for trying to organise a union in the last month.

Tesco said it had done all it could "to ensure high standards and good conditions" in the country

Asda said it may audit its suppliers while Primark, which also uses the factories, said Labour conditions were a matter of "considerable concern".

The new allegations follow similar claims of exploitation made last year by charity War on Want.

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