An investigation by the Thomson Reuters Foundation found that some workers at tea estates certified by Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade in Sri Lanka suffer from illegal wage deductions and take home as little as 14 U.S. cents a day. Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade said they were investigating as deducting wages without workers' consent was not allowed by law and contravened their standards. Unilever said it was "deeply concerned" and would investigate. Major tea company Tetley, owned by India's Tata Global Beverages, said it was in touch with the Rainforest Alliance regarding the findings.
Sri Lanka
Name
Sri Lanka
ISO
LK
Region
South East Asia & Indian Continent
Risk
Deforestation
Yes
Transhipment
Yes
Labour Rights & H&S
No
Environment
Yes
Biodiversity
Yes
Forest Area
Land Area
6,271,000
ha
Forest Area
2,063,400
ha (32.9%)
FSC Forest Area
17,880
ha (0.9%)
FSC CoCs
27
PEFC CoCs
1
Tea label giants vow probe after Sri Lanka labour abuse exposé
Thomson Reuters Foundation, 27 Mar 2019
Abuse is daily reality for female garment workers for Gap and H&M, says report
The Guardian, 8 Jun 2018
Pressure to meet fast fashion deadlines is leading to women working in Asian factories supplying Gap and H&M being sexually and physically abused, according to two separate reports published by Global Labour Justice on gender-based violence in garment supply chains. More than 540 female workers at factories that supply the Gap and H&M have described incidents of threats and abuse. The reports claim that these allegations recorded between January and May this year in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, are a direct result of pressure for quick turnarounds and low overheads. Gap and H&M are going to investigate the allegations and they welcome initiatives to tackle violence, including an ILO convention.