The major supermarket chain, Tesco, and the Community union have signed what the union calls ‘a ground breaking partnership agreement to improve conditions in the UK garment supply chain’.
In 2004 the National Union of Knitwear, Footwear & Apparel Trades (KFAT) and the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation (ISTC) merged to become the Community union. This body now manages the sector supplying clothing to Tesco. It has since become known as one of the leading unions that promotes partnerships with employers. Tesco is a major retailer of its own clothing brand. The signing of the partnership arises from ongoing concerns about workers in the garment sector facing a range of problems, including cases of under payment and non-payment of the minimum wage, excessive working hours, fraudulent declaration of earnings, worker abuse, illegal deductions from earnings and unauthorised sub-contracting.
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