A 14 Hours Road Trip for a Seven Months Pregnant Asylum Seeker

Can you image a seven months pregnant woman be put in a van for a 14 hours drive from Sydney to Melbourne? This was what Australia Immigration Department and Serco guards did to a Chinese asylum seeker yesterday (23 Feb 2015).

On Sunday (Feb 22), Serco guards failed to transfer Shuang Wei (魏雙) and her husband, Chun He Ma (馬春赫), from Sydney to Darwin by plane because Shuang Wei collapsed at Sydney Domestic Airport.

The couple have been in detention around 16 months and Shuang is now 29 weeks (7 months and 1 week) pregnant. On Saturday (Feb 21), the couple were told by Immigration Department they would be transferred to Darwin the next day. Since it was on the weekend, it left them no time to get any legal support.

On Sunday morning, Serco guards came to their room and tried to forcibly remove them. Chun He resisted then Serco guards dragged and pushed him violently. His shirt was torn and he got bruises on his arms. Serco guards scratched him and there were some bleedings on his arms too. Eventually, he was handcuffed and taken away.

Serco guards also forciblly removed Shuang as well. There were bruises on her arms and she felt pain in her stomach. They threatened Shuang if she didn’t go with her husband to Darwin, they will be separated and she will never see her husband again. The couple was taken to the airport for 11:25am flight to Darwin. Shuang couldn’t hold her breaths when she was in the car to the airport. She collapsed at the airport due to the extreme anxiety. They were taken to hospital for Shuang to get some basic checkups. The baby was ok but some abdominal muscles were strained and she got some pain killers from the doctor.

Later in the afternoon, they were put in a hotel and stayed overnight. They were allowed to make two phone calls to their friends in Villawood in order to convince their friends that they will be sent back to Villawood soon.

Yesterday (Monday) morning, 8 Serco guards woke them up and lied to them that they were going back to Villawood. Then, Shuang and Chun He were put in a van with 4 Serco guards around 9am then drove all the way to Melbourne. They didn’t arrive Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation Centre until 11pm last night.

Detainee protested on Villawood Detention Centre Rooftop (photo credited to Refugee Action Coalition)

In the meantime, on Sunday, detainees at Villawood were told that Shuang had collapsed at the airport and had been taken to hospital. They were told that the couple would be brought back to Villawood, but the couple were not been returned to Villawood yet on Monday.

Therefore, one Chinese asylum seeker, Feng Peng climbed up to the roof of Villawood Detention Centre around 9am Monday (Feb 23) to protest the forced transfer. Another Chinese asylum seeker, Wan Ping Tong, later also climbed up the fence to protest in order to find out where the couple was. Heng Qian Dai, the 3rd Chinese asylum seeker, argued with Serco guards and was pushed to ground and injured. Around 5pm protesters came down from the roof and fence. Now they are all held in Blaxland, the high-security section of Villawood.

Recently, asylum seekers have been transferred among different detention centres in Australia to separate them from partners, community and legal support. It is particularly cruel to transfer a woman so close to giving birth from friends and community support in Sydney.

Australia Immigration Department and Serco still want to transfer Shuang Wei and her husband to Darwin. How inhumane and disgraceful!!

Latest development as 27 Feb 2015:

The couple were transferred from Melbourne to Darwin around 11:45pm local Darwin time Thursday (Feb 26). They were put on a private/chartered plane with another three asylum seekers (one couple and a kid), accompanied by more than twenty Serco security guards.

HAS AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT GONG MAD? HOW RIDICULOUS AND DISGUSTING!

“Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action Hua Nan Financial in the Hall of Shame

Media Release 27112014

“Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action

Hua Nan Financial in the Hall of Shame

November 27 is the “Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action. Corner Link, SafeGround and Socialist Alliance hold a protest in front of Hua Nan Commercial Bank Sydney Branch and deliver a letter to the bank manager to demand Hua Nan Financial Holdings, one of the biggest and the oldest financial institutions in Taiwan, to stop providing loans to ATK (Alliant Techsystems Inc. a US weapon company), of which produces cluster munitions.

Today sees the release of the 2014 edition of the most comprehensive global report on financial investment in explosive weapons. The 2014 “Worldwide investments in cluster munitions: a shared responsibility’’ ( the Report) produced by the Dutch peace organisation, PAX, points the finger at Hua Nan Financial Holdings for its investment in the huge American arms manufacturer ATK.

According to the Report, in November 2013, ATK secured a US$1,960 million five-year credit facility from a 41-bank syndicate. E. Sun, Fubon Group, Hua Nan Financial and Land Bank of Taiwan were parts of the syndicate and provided US$15, 10, 15 and 15 million, respectively.

A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapons that releases or ejects smaller submunitions. Because cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area, they pose risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards. They cannot distinguish civilians from soldiers.

In recent years, cluster munitions are still used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and eastern Ukraine. The unexploded rate could reach as high as 15%. Long after a conflict has ended, unexploded bombs can still kill or injure civilians, and most of them are children.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force on 1 August 2010 which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. As of 1 November 2014, a total of 115 states have joined the Convention. Although Taiwan is unable to sign onto the international conventions, as a responsible member of the international society, as well as CSR (corporate social responsibility) of the financial institutes, we ask these four Taiwanese banks to change their investment policy and promise not to invest in any cluster munitions producers in the future.

We call upon the Hua Nan Financial Holdings to join other ethical investors and to immediately amend its investment policy, withdrawing all investments from ATK.

Contacts:

Joyce Fu, Corner Link, 0405 365 493, jfu@cornerlink.asia

Patricia Garcia, SafeGround, 0409 890 777 patriciadianagarcia@gmail.com

Peter Boyle, Socialist Alliance, 0401 760 577, peterb@greenleft.org.au

“Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action Macquarie Group in the Hall of Shame

Media Release 27112014            

“Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action

Macquarie Group in the Hall of Shame

November 27 is the “Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action. Corner Link, SafeGround and Socialist Alliance hold a protest in front of Macquarie Group and deliver a letter to CEO Nicholas Moore to demand Macquarie Group ending managing asset (shares) for Poongsan, a leading defence company in South Korea, of which produces cluster munitions.

Today sees the release of the 2014 edition of the most comprehensive global report on financial investment in explosive weapons. The 2014 “Worldwide investments in cluster munitions: a shared responsibility’’ produced by the Dutch peace organisation, PAX, points the finger at the Macquarie Group for its investment in the huge South Korean arms manufacturer, Poongsan.

Australia is a State Party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and for the Macquarie Group to hold investments in Pongsoon flies in the face of an Australian commitment to eradicate these indiscriminate and inhumane weapons.

A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapons that releases or ejects smaller submunitions. Because cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area, they pose risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards. They cannot distinguish civilians from soldiers.

In recent years, cluster munitions are still used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and eastern Ukraine. The unexploded rate could reach as high as 15%. Long after a conflict has ended, unexploded bombs can still kill or injure civilians, and most of them are children.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force on 1 August 2010 which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. As of 1 November 2014, a total of 115 states have joined the Convention and Australia signed onto the Convention in Dec 2008. Macquarie Group, as an Australian company, has undermined the commitment Australia has made to ban these weapons and run counter to its obligations under international law.

Quite the contrary to Macquarie Group, the Futures Fund maintains a policy of non-investment in financial institutions that contravene certain treaties, including the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Future Fund maintains an exclusion list to implement its policy. The list currently contains all the weapons manufacturers of cluster munitions and antipersonnel mines

The ANZ has revised its investment policy to specify that the bank will not accept any new clients involved in controversial weapons, such as cluster munitions, and also provides a model for the Macquarie Group to follow.

We call upon the Macquarie Group to join other ethical investors and to immediately amend its investment policy, withdrawing all investments from Poongsan.

Contacts:

Joyce Fu, Corner Link, 0405 365 493, jfu@cornerlink.asia

Patricia Garcia, SafeGround, 0409 890 777 patriciadianagarcia@gmail.com

Peter Boyle, Socialist Alliance, 0401 760 577, peterb@greenleft.org.au

Macquarie Group and Hua Nan Financial Holdings, Stop Investing in Cluster Bombs!

Media Alert 26112014

Macquarie Group and Hua Nan Financial Holdings

Stop Investing in Cluster Bombs!

“Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action

 Note: Detailed investment information on Hua Nan Financial Holdings and Macquarie Group’s investment in cluster munitions will be provided on the day of action.

Date/Time: 27 November 2014 (Thursday) 12:50 pm – 1:30 pm

12:50 pm Hua Nan Commercial Bank Sydney Branch

                 (Level 6, 60 Carrington Street, Sydney)

1:15 pm Macquarie Group (No. 1 Martin Place, Sydney)

November 27 is the “Stop Explosive Investments” Global Day of Action. Corner Link, SafeGround, Socialist Alliance and Australian Greens will hold a SNAP protest in front of both Hua Nan Commercial Bank Sydney Branch and Macquarie Group, as well as deliver a letter to the bank managers to demand Hua Nan Financial Holdings, one of the biggest and the oldest financial institutions in Taiwan, and Macquarie Group, one of the biggest financial institutions in Australia, to stop providing loans to ATK (Alliant Techsystems Inc. a US weapon company), as well as to stop managing asset (shares) for Poongsan (a leading defence company in South Korea), of which both produce cluster munitions.

A cluster munition is a form of air-dropped or ground-launched explosive weapons that releases or ejects smaller submunitions. Because cluster bombs release many small bomblets over a wide area, they pose risks to civilians both during attacks and afterwards. They cannot distinguish civilians from soldiers. In recent years, cluster munitions are still used in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and eastern Ukraine. The unexploded rate could reach as high as 15%. Long after a conflict has ended, unexploded bombs can still kill or injure civilians, and most of them are children.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force on 1 August 2010 which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. As of 1 November 2014, a total of 115 states have joined the Convention and Australia signed onto the Convention in Dec 2008. Macquarie Group, as an Australian company, has undermined the commitment Australia has made to ban these weapons and run counter to its obligations under international law.

In addition, Macquarie Group and Hua Nan Financial Holdings need to follow the CSR (corporate social responsibility) policy of the financial institutes. We demand both Macquarie Group and Hua Nan Financial Holdings change their investment policy and promise not to invest in any cluster munitions producers in the future.

Note: 2014 “Worldwide investments in cluster munitions: a shared responsibility” report is under strict embargo until 27 November 2014, 12.00 PM AEDT.

Transfield Services AGM Protest

Press Release 05/11/2014

Transfield Shame: Stop the Cruelty at Offshore Detention Centres – Blood money boosts Transfield Profits

Refugee Action Coalition Sydney, along with Corner Link, gather in front of Museum of Sydney today to protest at Transfield’s  AGM against its inhumane and cruel management of the offshore refugee detention centres located in Nauru and Manus Island.

According to Guardian Australia, Government’s policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers has benefited contractors by up to $10bn since mid-2007. Of this, Transfield Services Limited has nine contracts worth a total of $2.46bn, including a contract for $2.1bn to manage the offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru.  An estimate of government spending on each asylum seeker which considered all costs (rather than just contracts) and put the cost of offshore detention per person at about $440,000 in 2013-14, and onshore at $239,000.

However, the protest organizer, Ian Rintoul of the Refugee  Action Coalition points out, “Transfield is trading in human misery and profiteering from the human rights abuses of the Government’s off-shore processing regime.

“The company cannot even maintain basic supplies of water and electricity on Nauru or Manus Island. Manus Island is an unsanitary hell-hole that killed Hamid Kezaie.

“Transfield is also responsible for routinely using physical force to intimidate and suppress peaceful protests inside the detention centres it controls.

“In recent weeks, peaceful protests in the family camp of Nauru have been attacked by Transfield thugs, who have also been responsible for assaults carried out during forced searches in the camp.

“We call upon Transfield to end its collaboration with the Australian Government’s offshore processing regime.

“The government’s current mandatory detention and offshore processing policies ignore Australian humanitarian obligations to provide protection to refugees. Blood money is boosting Transfield’s profits. It is a stain Transfield will never recover from.”

Transfield has already been the target of boycott by artists associated with the Biennale of Sydney that resulted in the Biennale terminating its links with Transfield earlier this year. Transfield is also the target of a superannuation disinvestment campaign because of its complicity in violating the human rights of asylum seekers.

Joyce Fu, from Corner Link said, “As a public company listed on ASX, Transfield Service has the obligation to meet its corporate social responsibility agenda. What has happened in detention centres on Nauru and Manus Island is not acceptable.

“This type of inhumane and cruel practice has seriously damaged its reputation and has shown its incompetence to fulfil a humanitarian role. Furthermore, it is obvious that mandatory detention and  offshore processing is based wholly on deterrence and the systematic denial of the protection that asylum seekers need.”

Contacts:

Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition, +61 (0) 417 275 713, rintoulian10@gmail.com (wwwrefugeeaction.org.au)

Joyce Fu, Corner Link- Taking actions to promote environmental and social justice, +61 (0) 405 365 493, jfu@cornerlink.asia

Dams of Destruction – Lower Sesan 2 Dam

While the benefits of industrialisation have long been hailed as the key to better lifestyles in developed countries, the Lower Sesan 2 Hydropower Project threatens the environment and livelihood of Cambodians and villagers in South East Asia.

From its mouth on the Tibetan Plateau the Mekong River winds through six countries – China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – and over 4350km to the South China Sea.

The “mother of water” provides a free source of protein-rich food for the tens of thousands that live along its shores, many on less than $2 a day.

But environmentalists say that could all change as countries in the Lower Mekong dam the river, capturing the energy of currents to power local homes cheaply and export to overseas markets.

In Western countries, as debate rages on about climate change and mitigating the effects of increasing economic activity and fossil fuels, the immediate effects of transitioning to an industrial economy are yet to be felt in many developing countries.

Electricity supply is shoddy and unreliable at best and a complete luxury – out of reach for most – at worst.

Although the transformative effects of industrialisation on societies and living standards are a well-worn argument for third world development, the environmental cost of human development can be devastating and negatively impact on the lives of the people living there.

In Cambodia, despite failing its Environmental Impact Assessment, the Government has approved and construction has begun on the Lower Sesan 2 (LS2) Hydropower Project.

Lower Sesan 2 Dam under construction (Stung Treng, Cambodia, June 2014)

The project is expected to have the most devastating impacts of all dams in the Lower Mekong, affecting not only Cambodian populations but those in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Environmentalists say it will cause a 9.3% reduction in fish-stocks and lead to the extinction of 50 fish species threatening food security and the livelihood of local populations.

According to Oxfam the 75 metre high dam will flood more than 30,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land and cause poor water quality, irregular water flows and a reduction in fish stocks. According to a 2010 environmental impact assessment, the 400-megawatt dam will flood five villages and displace about 5,000 people. Most of them belong to the ethnic of Lao and Phnong minority and have been enjoying a life blessed with rich natural resources and cultural traditions

On Sep 29 2014, villagers whose homes will be destroyed if the controversial Lower Sesan 2 Dam is built, delivered a letter to provincial authorities announcing that they refuse to be resettled.

Meach Mean, coordinator of the 3S Rivers Protection Network, said “the villagers want the government to hold another study and … find another alternative to building the dam that means they’re not relocated.”

They also pointed out that the project is violating various standards, including international laws on Indigenous Peoples’ rights and Chinese government’s Guidelines for Environmental Protection in Overseas Investment and Cooperation.

Watch Oxfam’s video below to find out how Cambodian locals feel about the impacts of the dam.

Stand with Cambodian People Against the Refugee Deal

Press Release 16/10/2014

On Friday (Oct 17), more than 1,000 of Cambodian people, monks, students, victims of land eviction and representatives of unions and non-government organisations, will march on Phnom Penh’s streets to demand the abolition of the refugee resettlement deal signed by Cambodian and Australian governments to permanently resettle refugees from Nauru in Cambodia.

Protesters will deliver their petitions to Cabinet, National Assembly, Australian embassy, American embassy, UN and EU.  They are seeking local and international intervention in cancelling this agreement which they say is not beneficial to either the Cambodian people, or the refugees.

Protest in Phnom Penh Cambodia (Photo from Equitable Cambodia)

The protest organizer, Mao Pises, Present of Federation of Cambodian Intellectuals and Students (FedCIS) says, “We do not discriminate any refugees coming to live in Cambodia, but I’m afraid that they will not be able to live in a dignity because Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world; the situation can be worst than their homeland country. Nowadays, many Cambodians are living in poverty and their children could not access education and without proper health care. All public services in Cambodia are much poorer than in Australia, including education, job opportunities (many Cambodians have migrated to Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, etc. to find jobs), health care, human rights (many Cambodians are suffered from been forced eviction and land grabbing), corruption and so on. The Cambodian government doesn’t take enough care of its own people, how can they take a good care of those refugees? I think Cambodian government and Australian government are jointly abusing the rights of those refugees if they still continue implementing the resettlement deal which they countersigned on 26 September. Cambodia is not the right place for them to resettle for the time being.”

Eang Vuthy, Executive Director of Equitable Cambodia, points out, ” We call upon the Australian Government to uphold its international obligation and respects the rights of refugees. We also call upon the two countries to reconsider this deal and ensure that adequate support and protection are provided to these refugees.”

Protest in Phnom Penh Cambodia (Photo from Equitable Cambodia)

Joyce Fu of Corner Link, an organisation based in Australia with experiences working in Cambodia says, “More than half of Cambodian people are currently living under $2 USD per day. The entire country lacks access to some basic infrastructures, such as clean water, electricity and transportation. How could Cambodia take Australian refugees when it is creating refugees in its own country due to land grabbing from sugar cane and rubber plantation, dams and railway building and so-called urban development?.”

Ian Rintoul of the Refugee  Action Coalition comments, “This is a dirty deal which ignores Australian humanitarian obligations to provide protection to refugees. Cambodia is unable to properly support even its own citizens. We should not be shifting our responsibilities on to desperately poor countries, effectively bribing them to cooperate with Australia to undermine international human rights treaties.”

Dianne Hiles of ChilOut notes “Much of Australian Civil Society stands with the Cambodian people on this cause. We condemn the  Abbott government’s inappropriate, immoral and probably illegal deal. Cambodia is perceived as the 17th most corrupt country in the world, according to the Transparency International corruption index. The capacity of public education cannot coop with Cambodians’ own demand. It is most unlikely that the aid funding (extra $40 million over next 4 years) will be properly allocated to support the people, including children, it is intended for.”

We want to send out a strong message to the world, “This is not in our name!”

Protest in Phnom Penh Cambodia (Photo from Equitable Cambodia)

CAMBODIA? UNBELIEVABLE!

Shame  on Australia’s Refugee Resettlement Deal with Cambodia

Australia-Cambodia refugee resettlement deal

On Sep 26, Australian government signed the Memorandum of Understanding with Cambodian government in resettling refugees currently held in Australian detention centre in Nauru (an island country in the South Pacific) to Cambodia. In return, Cambodia will receive $35 million USD ($40 million AUD) over the next four years in development assistance, in addition to the $61 million USD ($70 million AUD) aid budget from Australia (2013 figure).

Protests were held by grassroots organizations and human rights groups both in front of the Australian embassy in Phnom Penh Cambodia, and outside the Sydney office of Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection.

A snap protest held on Sep 26 outside the Sydney offices of Australia’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection to against resettling refugees who have been detained for fleeing by boat to Australia to Cambodia. (Photo by Peter Boyle)

Cambodia is ill-equipped to insure the wellbeing of refugees

Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world. More than half of its population are currently living under $2 USD per day. According to Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, “Cambodia’s people still have some of the poorest indicators in the region for gender equality, access to clean water and sanitation, child and maternal health and poverty.” The entire country lacks access to some basic infrastructures, such as clean water, electricity and transportation. The capacity of public education cannot coop with Cambodians’ own demand.

Cambodia is the 17th most corrupt country in the world, according to the Transparency International corruption perceptions index. Half of the government budget comes from foreign aid. It is highly doubted that the aid funding will be properly allocated to the people in need.

Cambodia deal against UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR)

Cambodia has a poor record regarding its handling of refugees supposed to be in its care. In the past, Cambodia transferred asylum seekers to the original countries to executions. In fact, land grabbing due to sugar cane & rubber plantation, dam & railway building and so-called urban development, Cambodia is creating refugees in its own country. In January, five workers were killed by the police at garment unions’ general strike to increase the national minimum wage. There is no human rights at all in Cambodia.

Under the UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (CRSR) which Australia is the acceded party, Australia has the humanitarian obligation to provide protections to refugees and should not shift its responsibilities elsewhere. The resettlement deal with Cambodia is violated the CRSR.

An activist holding a placard of “Official Traffickers” at the protest outside the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Sep 26 to against Australian government’s ‘deal’ to resettle refugees in this poor and war-traumatised country (Photo by Kyle Cruz)

Money cannot buy morality

Refugees are persons who are fleeing persecution or the life-threatening effects of armed conflict. They are entitled to better treatment than being shipped from one country to the next. According to UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres, with 87% of refugees now being hosted in developing countries, developed countries should share more responsibilities. Since Australia is one of the richest countries in the world, it has a moral responsibility to provide protection and care to refugees.

It is immoral and injustice to pay/bribe other countries to fulfill the duty. It is just not right; morality is not tradable.

Call for the abolition of the deal

As the former Australian Chief Justice Alastair Nicholson said in an interview before the deal was signed, “This planned deal is inappropriate, immoral and likely illegal. It is inappropriate because Cambodia has no capacity within its social sector to take an influx of refugees. Immoral because these vulnerable people are Australia’s responsibility, and while we await the detail, it appears illegal in contravening Australia’s humanitarian and refugee obligations to vulnerable children and families.”

Australian people, especially those NGOs working in aids/development sector in Cambodia, should stand up and condemn Australian government refugee resettlement deal with Cambodia, to send out a strong message to the world, “This is not in our name!“.

Australian activists held a lunchtime protest outside the immigration department office in Sydney (Photo by Peter Boyle)

Sydney to Join Global Protest at Big Brand Fashion Labels

Media release September 17, 2014

In early October, the Labor Advisory Committee in Cambodia is to announce a new minimum wage for workers in the garment, textile and footwear industry, which generates US$5 billion in revenue for the country.

According to Tailored Wages Report – Are the Big Brands Paying the People Who Make Our Clothes Enough to Live On? published by the Clean Clothes Campaign and the Asia Floor Wage Alliance on March 2014, only four of 50 big brand multinational clothing and footwear companies contacted were able to demonstrate they had taken any steps that might lead to improved wages for the Cambodian workers who make many of their expensive fashion products.

The report also pointed out that none of the companies surveyed are as yet paying a living wage to these workers.

A call for global solidarity action on September 17 follows Cambodian unions’ general strike to increase the national minimum wage in January, in which 5 workers were killed, 40 seriously injured and 25 workers arrested.

“Despite the violence and repression, Cambodian garment workers are continuing to fight to lift the minimum wage from US$100 to US$177/month for workers who produce for international brands like Levi’s, Adidas and GAP who profit from the poverty wages and sweatshop conditions in Cambodia”, says Joyce Fu, the organiser of a solidarity action to be held in Sydney.

The action – organised mainly through internet social networks took place at12 noon today outside the Westfield Shopping Centre in the heart of Sydney’s central shopping district.

Protest against multinational clothing brands exploiting Cambodian garment workers (Photo taken by Sergio Leyva Seiglie)

Australian trade unionists have also held a protest in Canberra outside the Cambodian Embassy on the same day at 11 am.

“For demonstration in Sydney today, we do commend ZARA/Inditex for being one of the four big brands who have taken some steps to make sure their workers are paid a living wage and have freedom of association, based on the findings of the Tailored Wages Report. We will further encourage them to take the lead on helping trade unions’ negotiation with Government on the raise of minimum wages.”

Joyce Fu says, “Our main targets are GAP, Adidas, Levi’s and Puma. Especially GAP, for its little proof of real work that will improve wages for workers making its clothes, and Levi’s, for doing very little to directly combat wage issues in its supply chain.

According to the Tailored Wages Report, GAP scored only 6 out of 40, Adidas scored only 10 out of 40, Puma scored 12 and Levi’s didn’t even respond to the survey.

Cambodian Sweatshops Threaten Brand Equity

Brand name apparel manufacturers such as H&M, ZARA/Inditex, Adidas and GAP could risk brand equity over their use of Cambodian sweatshops. An international movement to protest the low wages paid by multinational apparel companies to workers in Cambodia is gaining momentum. On 17th September, rallies will be held around the world for the International Day of Solidarity with Cambodian Workers.

Many major clothing manufacturers produce garments in sweatshops in developing countries to pursue large profit margins through cheap labor and a lack of government regulations and environmental protection. However companies that engage in unethical practices could also seriously damage their brand value. Brand value or brand equity is the premium a well-known brand name can earn above its generic competitor. Big brands often capitalize on consumers’ belief that a product with a well-known name is better than lesser known names.

According to the “Best Global Brands” report published in 2013, H&M, ZARA/Inditex, Adidas and GAP are among some of the most valuable global brands worth approximately $18.1, $10.8, $7.5 and $4 US billion respectively.

It takes a long time and careful management to build up a strong brand and positive recognition with consumers but it is easy to undo all of that work as well. Nike’s use of sweatshops in the 1990’s led to a global boycott campaign that was so successful that it has now become a lesson in how giant corporations can be brought to account by ordinary consumers.

PROFITS OVER PEOPLE

It is clear that big brand names profit off of cheap labor costs in developing countries. In 2013, the profit/net income for H&M, ZARA/Inditex, Adidas and GAP was $2.6, $3.1, $1.6 and $1.1 billion USD respectively according to the annual financial report of each company.

Despite this, Cambodian workers currently earn approximately $100 per month. Malnutrition and poor working conditions have been blamed for thousands of cases of collapsed workers in the past few years. Unions are now demanding multinationals increase the minimum wage to $177 USD per month.

As consumers become increasingly savvy about the environmental, social and governance considerations of large companies, brands that embrace ethical practices and treat workers fairly will be rewarded in the long term. Not only do poorly treated workers typically make poor-quality goods, but international brands could damage their brand equity.