Pressemeldungen - Unternehmensverantwortung & Lieferkettengesetz © FEMNET 16 May 2022 As Zalando's profits rise, workers in producing countries lose their jobs without compensation On the occasion of the upcoming Zalando Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2022, FEMNET is asking critical questions to the online retailer. Joint press release by FEMNET and the Association of Critical Shareholders BonnDespite or precisely because of the ongoing corona pandemic, online retailer Zalando was able to further increase its profits last year: Online commerce is booming. According to the annual report, growth was 34%. At the same time, many seamstresses lost their jobs in Bangladesh and many were not paid as required by law. Zalando is also producing in Bangladesh and has increased the number of its suppliers from 11 to 17. FEMNET therefore asks at the Zalando Annual General Meeting whether there were wage cuts at these 17 suppliers in 2021. In the past, the online retailer has evaded questions about wage payments. FEMNET would like to know what concrete steps Zalando is taking to guarantee a living wage for the textile workers of its suppliers. The issue of gender-based violence in the workplace also plays a major role for Bangladeshi workers. Again and again, women are victims of sexual assault, insults or beatings. What measures does the company require its suppliers to take to address this? Are the suppliers supported by Zalando? FEMNET will also request specific information on this at the Annual General Meeting. In addition, there is no information on social audits in the previous annual report, despite Zalando's commitment in the previous year to provide more transparency on the audits and their results. Also in the focus of FEMNET: Zalando's operations in Myanmar. In February 2021, the military regime came to power. Since then, many people have been murdered or arrested by the regime. The factories are monitored by the military, trade unionists and activists who organize are reported. Gisela Burckhardt, CEO of FEMNET, asked: "Last year, Zalando announced that it would no longer award contracts to its supplier York Overseas in Myanmar. In the current annual report, however, this continues to appear in the supplier list. Is Zalando still awarding orders to York Overseas? How can Zalando fulfil its duty of care in a military state?" Due to the massive human rights violations, the IMFM trade union calls for companies to withdraw from Myanmar. background FEMNET is a non-profit women's rights organization that has been campaigning for better working conditions in the apparel industry of the Global South since 2007. The the umbrella organisation of the Critical shareholders are a shareholder association that advocates greater responsibility and transparency of companies with regard to environmental protection, labour and human rights, arms production and the renunciation of profit maximization at the expense of third parties. Press contact: FEMNET e.V.Anne Munzert Speaker Public Relations & Press This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 0175/8465560 Association of Critical ShareholdersPostfach 30 03 07, 50773 Cologne, Germany0221/599 56 47www.kritischeaktionaere.de Download the press release of 16.05.2022 (PDF file)
