Popstar Beyonce is under fire for being the face of clothing giant H&M as more damaging allegations emerge about conditions its works endure overseas,
especially in Bangladesh, reports Mail Online.
The singer signed a multi-million dollar deal last year to be the face of the high street label’s summer swimwear collection.
But the 31-year-old has been criticised for continuing to represent the clothing giant as damaging revelations emerge about its suppliers in Asia.
Director of the Institute for Global Labour and Human Rights Charles Kernaghan told Star that working conditions at two factories he had audited in Bangladesh that produced H&M clothes were ‘ridiculous.’
‘There was child labour, people were being beaten, cheated of their wages — and wages were very, very low,’ Kernaghan claimed.
H&M is the largest single buyer of Bangladeshi garments and imports about $1.5 billion (around £9.4million) of readymade clothes from the country, according to trade officials.
Kernaghan claimed there was sexual harassment in the ‘sweatshops’, as ‘male supervisors would constantly press young women to have sex with them.’
Fair Trade Campaigns Director for Green America Elizabeth O’Connell believes the singer, who gave birth to daughter Blue Ivy last year, should have taken a stand when the revelations emerged.
‘Beyoncé has more power than she knows … she could have agreed to continue only if H&M agreed to change the working conditions of its overseas garment factories, O’Connell said. ‘Celebrities should look past the dollar signs and become aware of what the company is actually selling.’
Last week 23 workers were injured in a partial building collapse in Cambodia at a factory which produced H&M garments.
-With New Age input
