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"Charity wristbands 'made in sweatshops'
Wristbands made to raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign have been produced in Chinese factories which violated ethical standards.
The fashionable white wristbands, worn by celebrities and politicians including Tony Blair and Coldplay's Chris Martin, were made for a coalition of charities as the symbol of their worldwide 2005 campaign to end extreme poverty.
Oxfam, Christian Aid and Cafod are amongst those charities selling the wristbands, made in rubber and fabric, at £1 each.
Audit reports on two Chinese factories producing the bands have shown standards fell below the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Tat Shing Rubber Manufacturing Company, in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, was accused of "forced labour" by taking financial deposits, poor health and safety provision, long hours, unpaid overtime and no right to freedom of association, in the April 2005 audit.
An audit report on Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company, in Fujian province, included workers being paid below the local minimum hourly wage of 2.39 yuan (16p), down to 1.39 yuan (9p) in some cases, overtime work not being paid properly and with hours beyond the legal limit, no paid annual leave, no guarantee of a day off per week, and workers being deducted for disciplinary reasons.
A spokeswoman for Cafod, which bought 120,000 rubber bands from the Tat Shing factory, said it was "concerned that labour standards weren't as good as we would have expected especially as we were buying as part of this campaign."
Oxfam bought 10,000 silicon wristbands from Tat Shing in November last year, none of which have been sold, but found another supplier while waiting to receive the firm's audit.
Oxfam then ordered 1.5 million wristbands from Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company after the failings highlighted in its audit had been addressed.
A spokesman for Oxfam said: "Like the rest of the Make Poverty History coalition, Oxfam is concerned about the ethical audits that have come back on the Chinese factories lined up to supply white bands and we have agreed formal action plans to address the concerns raised which have been carried out.
"We can reassure people wanting to support the campaign that all white bands sold in Oxfam shops meet the standards of our ethical purchasing practices."
A spokesman for Christian Aid, which has bought more than 500,000 wristbands from Tat Shing, said: "There is no hint of a disagreement within the agencies on this. At Christian Aid we stand four-square beside our partners within the Make Poverty History Campaign."
Sandbag, a Berkshire-based marketing company which deals with the Fuzhou factory, was not available to comment."
Wristbands made to raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign have been produced in Chinese factories which violated ethical standards.
The fashionable white wristbands, worn by celebrities and politicians including Tony Blair and Coldplay's Chris Martin, were made for a coalition of charities as the symbol of their worldwide 2005 campaign to end extreme poverty.
Oxfam, Christian Aid and Cafod are amongst those charities selling the wristbands, made in rubber and fabric, at £1 each.
Audit reports on two Chinese factories producing the bands have shown standards fell below the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Tat Shing Rubber Manufacturing Company, in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, was accused of "forced labour" by taking financial deposits, poor health and safety provision, long hours, unpaid overtime and no right to freedom of association, in the April 2005 audit.
An audit report on Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company, in Fujian province, included workers being paid below the local minimum hourly wage of 2.39 yuan (16p), down to 1.39 yuan (9p) in some cases, overtime work not being paid properly and with hours beyond the legal limit, no paid annual leave, no guarantee of a day off per week, and workers being deducted for disciplinary reasons.
A spokeswoman for Cafod, which bought 120,000 rubber bands from the Tat Shing factory, said it was "concerned that labour standards weren't as good as we would have expected especially as we were buying as part of this campaign."
Oxfam bought 10,000 silicon wristbands from Tat Shing in November last year, none of which have been sold, but found another supplier while waiting to receive the firm's audit.
Oxfam then ordered 1.5 million wristbands from Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company after the failings highlighted in its audit had been addressed.
A spokesman for Oxfam said: "Like the rest of the Make Poverty History coalition, Oxfam is concerned about the ethical audits that have come back on the Chinese factories lined up to supply white bands and we have agreed formal action plans to address the concerns raised which have been carried out.
"We can reassure people wanting to support the campaign that all white bands sold in Oxfam shops meet the standards of our ethical purchasing practices."
A spokesman for Christian Aid, which has bought more than 500,000 wristbands from Tat Shing, said: "There is no hint of a disagreement within the agencies on this. At Christian Aid we stand four-square beside our partners within the Make Poverty History Campaign."
Sandbag, a Berkshire-based marketing company which deals with the Fuzhou factory, was not available to comment."
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Heh, there's something that's sickly ironic...
You would have thought that these international charities could at least get their bands manufactured ethically... I guess they are selling them at £1 a pop, but still, talk about shooting themselves in the foot.
You would have thought that these international charities could at least get their bands manufactured ethically... I guess they are selling them at £1 a pop, but still, talk about shooting themselves in the foot.
The bullying band is just gold. I can just picture a bunch of chavs surrounding this little fat kid, bracing themselves to kick the crap out of him, and then one of them notices the band on his wrist. "Oh, oh, lay off him bruvs, he's got a band innit'?" And quickly apologising and moving onto a non-band-wearing kid.
And yeah, I know that's not their purpose, but STFU.
And yeah, I know that's not their purpose, but STFU.
Never seen the point in them anyway.
People will have them running up their arm till their shoulders. Which will then cut off the circulation of blood to their arm, leading to arm amputation.
The irony of the fact? There'll be a "Support the armless" band out before you can say "Oh my god!"
And the rubbish idea continues.
People will have them running up their arm till their shoulders. Which will then cut off the circulation of blood to their arm, leading to arm amputation.
The irony of the fact? There'll be a "Support the armless" band out before you can say "Oh my god!"
And the rubbish idea continues.
Alfonse wrote:
> I wear the conterfeit ones.
Takes one to wear one.
> I wear the conterfeit ones.
Takes one to wear one.
I wear the conterfeit ones.
Meh
Little money is better than no money. Boycotting these isn't the way to go, as then the people would be out of a job. If you were going to buy one, buy one, just complain at the same time
Little money is better than no money. Boycotting these isn't the way to go, as then the people would be out of a job. If you were going to buy one, buy one, just complain at the same time
Haha. They're gay too, which is why I don't wear any.
"Charity wristbands 'made in sweatshops'
Wristbands made to raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign have been produced in Chinese factories which violated ethical standards.
The fashionable white wristbands, worn by celebrities and politicians including Tony Blair and Coldplay's Chris Martin, were made for a coalition of charities as the symbol of their worldwide 2005 campaign to end extreme poverty.
Oxfam, Christian Aid and Cafod are amongst those charities selling the wristbands, made in rubber and fabric, at £1 each.
Audit reports on two Chinese factories producing the bands have shown standards fell below the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Tat Shing Rubber Manufacturing Company, in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, was accused of "forced labour" by taking financial deposits, poor health and safety provision, long hours, unpaid overtime and no right to freedom of association, in the April 2005 audit.
An audit report on Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company, in Fujian province, included workers being paid below the local minimum hourly wage of 2.39 yuan (16p), down to 1.39 yuan (9p) in some cases, overtime work not being paid properly and with hours beyond the legal limit, no paid annual leave, no guarantee of a day off per week, and workers being deducted for disciplinary reasons.
A spokeswoman for Cafod, which bought 120,000 rubber bands from the Tat Shing factory, said it was "concerned that labour standards weren't as good as we would have expected especially as we were buying as part of this campaign."
Oxfam bought 10,000 silicon wristbands from Tat Shing in November last year, none of which have been sold, but found another supplier while waiting to receive the firm's audit.
Oxfam then ordered 1.5 million wristbands from Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company after the failings highlighted in its audit had been addressed.
A spokesman for Oxfam said: "Like the rest of the Make Poverty History coalition, Oxfam is concerned about the ethical audits that have come back on the Chinese factories lined up to supply white bands and we have agreed formal action plans to address the concerns raised which have been carried out.
"We can reassure people wanting to support the campaign that all white bands sold in Oxfam shops meet the standards of our ethical purchasing practices."
A spokesman for Christian Aid, which has bought more than 500,000 wristbands from Tat Shing, said: "There is no hint of a disagreement within the agencies on this. At Christian Aid we stand four-square beside our partners within the Make Poverty History Campaign."
Sandbag, a Berkshire-based marketing company which deals with the Fuzhou factory, was not available to comment."
Wristbands made to raise awareness of the Make Poverty History campaign have been produced in Chinese factories which violated ethical standards.
The fashionable white wristbands, worn by celebrities and politicians including Tony Blair and Coldplay's Chris Martin, were made for a coalition of charities as the symbol of their worldwide 2005 campaign to end extreme poverty.
Oxfam, Christian Aid and Cafod are amongst those charities selling the wristbands, made in rubber and fabric, at £1 each.
Audit reports on two Chinese factories producing the bands have shown standards fell below the Ethical Trading Initiative.
Tat Shing Rubber Manufacturing Company, in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, was accused of "forced labour" by taking financial deposits, poor health and safety provision, long hours, unpaid overtime and no right to freedom of association, in the April 2005 audit.
An audit report on Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company, in Fujian province, included workers being paid below the local minimum hourly wage of 2.39 yuan (16p), down to 1.39 yuan (9p) in some cases, overtime work not being paid properly and with hours beyond the legal limit, no paid annual leave, no guarantee of a day off per week, and workers being deducted for disciplinary reasons.
A spokeswoman for Cafod, which bought 120,000 rubber bands from the Tat Shing factory, said it was "concerned that labour standards weren't as good as we would have expected especially as we were buying as part of this campaign."
Oxfam bought 10,000 silicon wristbands from Tat Shing in November last year, none of which have been sold, but found another supplier while waiting to receive the firm's audit.
Oxfam then ordered 1.5 million wristbands from Fuzhou Xing Chun Trade Company after the failings highlighted in its audit had been addressed.
A spokesman for Oxfam said: "Like the rest of the Make Poverty History coalition, Oxfam is concerned about the ethical audits that have come back on the Chinese factories lined up to supply white bands and we have agreed formal action plans to address the concerns raised which have been carried out.
"We can reassure people wanting to support the campaign that all white bands sold in Oxfam shops meet the standards of our ethical purchasing practices."
A spokesman for Christian Aid, which has bought more than 500,000 wristbands from Tat Shing, said: "There is no hint of a disagreement within the agencies on this. At Christian Aid we stand four-square beside our partners within the Make Poverty History Campaign."
Sandbag, a Berkshire-based marketing company which deals with the Fuzhou factory, was not available to comment."
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