Zara supplier in Brazil accused of "slave" labor

A supplier in Brazil for the leading Zara brand of Spanish fashion retailer Inditex has been accused by the Brazilian Labor Ministry of requiring its foreign employees to work in conditions "analogous to slavery," according to media reports.

Brazilian daily Jornal do Brasil quoted the under-secretary for labor inspection, Renato Bigami, as saying the infractions discovered in two factories in the north of São Paulo included excessively long working hours, and a lack of hygiene.

The workers affected were from Bolivia and Peru, one of whom is only 14 years old. The supplier also forced workers to pay back debts incurred in their transportation to Brazil. The irregularities were discovered in raids carried out at the end of June. Reuters quoted Inditex as confirming that the inspections found 16 workers who were unregistered in breach of the company's code of conduct for its suppliers. The Spanish firm did not name the supplier.

The workers affected are due compensation of 65,000 euros, which Inditex said would be paid entirely by the supplier. The Spanish company has ordered the supplier to cease the illegal practices.

Inditex has 50 suppliers in Brazil, which employ some 7,000 workers. The Spanish company said it would work with the Brazilian authorities to reinforce its system of inspections for its suppliers in Brazil.