Last week, clothing retailer, Gap Inc., was accused of using child labor in Indian sweatshops to produce a piece of clothing for GapKids. Gap has pulled the controversial clothes from store shelves and immediately launched an investigation. According to Gap, the investigation revealed that a very small portion of a particular order placed with one of its vendors subcontracted to an unauthorized subcontractor without the company’s knowledge or approval. The media has had a field day, with this unfortunate development. NGO’s are asking why the Gap and other companies were not enforcing factory checks before. Gap is attempting to resolve the problem and control the negative repercussions on its corporate image. Gap issued an official statement addressing the accusation.
In 2004, Gap admitted to widespread operational problems from unsafe machinery to child labor violations. The company went to great lengths to turn its image around. During this initial sweatshop controversy the Gap released its first social responsibility report, which is now released annually in an effort combat the negative image. Unfortunately for the Gap, last week’s discovery threatens to unravel Gap’s ethical image and all the good will it created by improving factory conditions since 2004.
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