Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine August Issue 2018 | Page 66

RETAIL CURRENT HAVE YOUR SAY BREAKING NEWS Tell us your news by emailing at [email protected] To read the latest sustainability news, go to https://apparelresources.com/business-news/sustainability/  Nike, Adidas under scanner for paying less to workers making kits for FIFA World Cup '18 Athleisure and sportswear behemoths, Adidas and Nike, are under fire after a recent report by Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), a coalition of labour unions and NGOs, that works for the improvement of the factory workers in garment and sportswear industries, alleged unfair pay. The report says that the two sportswear brands are not paying their female garment workers decent wages. Reportedly, these workers are involved in the production of apparel and footwear for soccer players and support staff of teams. CCC’s report, ‘Foul Play’ marked out the comparison between production costs incurred by both the brands in current time and that which was existent 25 years Wage that suggests 363 Euro as the minimum wage for workers to cover basic needs. Adidas and Nike both responded to the ‘Foul Play’ report and ensured to provide fair wages to their factory workers. ago which revealed that 30 per cent lesser share now goes into the workers’ pockets as compared to what was given to them in the early 1990s. Markedly, most of the sports apparel of Adidas and Nike are produced in Indonesia, where 80 per cent of the garment workers are women. Female garment workers earn around 82 to 200 Euros per month which is significantly below the minimum wage set by Asia Floor Reportedly, Nike spoke on the issue and said that the company is ready to work with the Government, manufacturers, NGOs, factory workers and unions to assist a systematic change. While Adidas also committed to provide safe working conditions to its workers throughout its supply chain. The CCC report also mentioned that Adidas and Nike signed an agreement in 2011 on trade unions’ rights in Indonesia and now they must follow-up on the pledge to deal with job security and minimum wage issues. Shoppers Stop to invest on new technologies, infrastructure India-based retail chain Shoppers Stop, owned by K Raheja Group, is considering investments on new technologies and infrastructure to intensify its omnichannel retail strategy. The retailer is aimed to become debt-free by the end of fiscal 2018-19. The retailer which exited non- core businesses last year, is now hopeful to be more focused on its core business and subsequently impact its balance sheet and increase in shareholder value. Escalation of e-commerce would be another focus area of the retailer to increase its sales growth and offer seamless experiences to customers across online and offline stores. The retail brand thinks that digital shopping channels would emerge as a major way through which customers will get to know about Shoppers Stop. The brand which has an exclusive flagship store on the Amazon marketplace raised Rs. 179.25 crore from global e-commerce giant by issuing equity shares, amounting to 5 per cent stake. An unexpected boost for its 66 Apparel Online Bangladesh | August 2018 | www.apparelresources.com omnichannel business is likely to come from its alliance with Amazon. Post alliance, the retail brand is on its way to achieve its target of 10 per cent of overall sales from digital touch-points.