H&M is investigating dozens of alleged labour abuse cases at its Myanmar garment factories after facing mounting pressure from advocacy groups on the treatment of factory workers.
The retail giant confirmed to Reuters it was following up on 20 alleged incidents.
Up to 156 cases of alleged worker abuses in the country’s garment factories were recorded by a UK-based human rights advocacy group from February 2022 to 2023, a sharp increase from the 56 tracked in the year prior.
The most frequently reported allegations are wage reduction and wage theft, followed by forced overtime, unfair dismissal and inhumane work rates, according to the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC).
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H&M said in a statement: “All the cases raised in the report by BHRRC are being followed-up and where needed remediated through our local team on the ground and in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders.
“We are deeply concerned by the latest developments in Myanmar, and we see increased challenges to conduct our operations according to our standards and requirements.”
The BHRRC, which has been tracking allegations of workers’ rights abuse in garment factories since the country’s military coup in 2021, found 21 cases of alleged abuses linked to Inditex suppliers.
The Zara owner announced at the end of last month that it was in the process of cutting ties with Myanmar suppliers following pressure by campaigners to divest from the country.
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