Primark forced to remove ethical endorsement logo

Primark, the high street budget fashion chain, has been forced to remove a logo endorsing the ethical credentials of its clothing over the weekend. It comes after a newspaper investigation which alleged that two of its suppliers are breaking employment and immigration laws.

The Ethical Trading Initiative, which monitors and approves top UK retails, immediately ordered the retailer to remove any references to its approval in-store and from its marketing following the allegations.

The investigation, carried out by The Observer, centres on Manchester based knitwear supplier TNS, which it claims has been caught paying illegal immigrant workers less than the minimum wage by an undercover journalist

Although Primark has agreed to follow the directive, a spokesman says it is “surprised” and “disappointed’ that the ETI has acted before investigations by the retailer and “relevant UK authorities” have taken place.

Primark says it is conducting its own investigation, and has passed on all information handed over by the newspaper to the relevant authorities.

Last summer, the retailer sacked three of its suppliers after an investigation by the BBC’s Panorama and The Observer found evidence they were using child labour in refugee camps.