In the bustling garment factories of Bangladesh, workers toil tirelessly for long hours yet remain entrenched in poverty. The United Steelworkers union (USW) and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) have filed a pivotal complaint against Canadian retailer Mark’s and its parent company, Canadian Tire, attributing their plight to the violation of human rights principles, as workers receive substandard wages, far below the threshold of a living wage.
This complaint marks a noteworthy moment, being one of the first lodged with the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), which was established to address human rights abuses connected to Canadian companies abroad. The USW and CLC have devoted over a decade to amplifying the voices of vulnerable workers and advocating for improved labour conditions.
Initially, CORE consented to probe the allegations in early 2024. However, a significant turning point occurred with the conclusion of Ombudsperson Sheri Meyerhoffer’s mandate, leading to CORE’s final report in December 2024—one that astonishingly dismissed the complaints without an investigation or recommendations for Mark’s.
Bangladeshi garment workers suffer under dire conditions, earning wages insufficient to escape poverty. The USW and CLC filed a complaint against Mark’s for human rights violations, only for CORE to ultimately dismiss it without investigation. This scenario highlights the shortcomings of CORE, as it needs more independence and power to fulfil its mission effectively, prompting USW and CLC to seek judicial review.
The dismissal of the joint complaint by CORE illustrates a troubling trend in corporate accountability regarding human rights, reflecting the inadequacies of the office to truly empower change. As USW and CLC pursue judicial review, there is a palpable need for a significant overhaul of CORE’s mandate and authority. Without genuine independence and investigative powers, the call for justice and accountability for exploited workers remains a distant dream.
Original Source: usw.ca
