Saturday, April 16, 2011

For Celebrities, Old Navy Scores Major Points For Style- How Do They Score on Labor Rights? – Not For Sale: End Human Trafficking and Slavery

San Francisco, CA (April 14, 2011): Old Navy’s $34 flower print sundress has been making waves in Hollywood as big name actresses such as Carmen Electra and Joanna Krupa have been seen out and about showcasing Old Navy’s latest collection. A number of celebs have admitted to frequenting the mega-chain’s stores including Audrina Patridge, Eva Longoria, and Kim Kardashian, giving bargain shopping a fashionable flair.

Old Navy is a subsidiary of Gap Inc., a global specialty retailer that also sells apparel, personal care, and accessories under the Gap, Banana Republic, and Piperlime brands. The Old Navy brand has topped the company’s comparable store sales charts for years, and in the fiscal year of 2010 they raked in $5.37 billion in net sales, comprising over one-third of all Gap Inc.’s total sales. The Old Navy brand’s exponential growth, in conjunction with heightened media attention, offers the perfect opportunity to showcase some other aspects the company excels in beyond just a competitive price point and an eye for design.

Old Navy received a B+ rating on Free2Work for its corporate policy on the use of forced and child labor in its supply chains. Points were awarded for the company’s active participation in a range of multi-stakeholder initiatives, support for the right to freedom of association, and efforts to credibly deal with child labor issues in a way that seeks to improve the industry as a whole.

Free2Work is an online resource that streamlines information on the labor policies of companies and products and makes this information easily accessible to the average consumer. Companies receive an “A” through “F” grade based on supply chain transparency, code of conduct, response to child and forced labor, and overall efforts to empower workers. While Gap Inc. has historically dealt with issues related to factory conditions and the use of child labor, a number of policies have been implemented to remediate violations in their supply chain, including the use of unannounced monitoring to ensure these policies are enforced. Some suggested next steps to further improve this company’s Free2work score include making its supplier list transparent and addressing the lower level of workers’ wages.

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About Not for Sale:

The Not For Sale Campaign equips and mobilizes Smart Activists to deploy innovative solutions 
to re-abolish slavery, in their own backyards and across the globe. www.notforsalecampaign.org

About International Labor Rights Forum:

International Labor Rights Forum is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and 
humane treatment for workers worldwide. www.laborrights.org

For Celebrities, Old Navy Scores Major Points For Style- How Do They Score on Labor Rights? – Not For Sale: End Human Trafficking and Slavery
Source: notforsalecampaign.org
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