Whether it's 29p an hour for their workers in India, or recent allegations of 7p an hour for their Bangladeshi graftsmen, activists arrived geared up and prepped to voice their outrage at Primark's exploitative and despicable policies outside the TUC building (Trade Union Congress Centre) in central London this morning - just as those in the ivory towers of the corporation sat down for their cosy AGM.

No Sweat, Labour Behind the Label, War on Want and Ctrl.Alt.Shift (among other justice-seeking organisations) were all present, placards and banners in hand, never deterred by some of Primark’s shamed shareholders trying to shoo the loud and proud protesters away. 

The high street giants have made around £233 million this year. Yet according to War on Want, a pitiful amount of that sum goes towards paying the average worker in developing countries £19.16 a month. This does very little to improve the already appalling conditions (and abuse in some circumstances) of the men, women and children striving away to make those fabulous Primark sequin dresses we see in the shop window - shoppers of the UK can go home delighted with a new buy, while the majority of Primark's hustlers will walk home after a 14 hour shift to small, crowded shacks, many lacking plumbing and adequate washing facilities. 

What is most frustrating about this picture is how Primark will not own up and pay dividends for what they have done. They even have the nerve to call themselves an ethical company on www.ethicalprimark.co.uk. But today proved their wool will no longer be pulled over the eyes of the good people.

Chants echoed around the TUC of "Primark! Cut the spin!" and "What do we want? Living wage! When do we want it? NOW!" When a Primark shareholder came out to hold the fort (in a feeble attempt to justify Primark's actions by claiming they were not responsible for business procedures overseas), the campaigners seized upon his distasteful words with "Quit passing the buck!" and "Use your profit to pay the workers!"
 
Today's message will stick with Primark - they have been exposed and, hopefully sooner rather than later, they will stand up and be held accountable for their actions. Perhaps then, change and justice will be on the cards (though obviously not today, as the shareholders waddled out of their AGM, past the protest with lovely Primark gift bags). Nonetheless, one will hope that the chants will be heard before the festive rush.

With blood on your hands, Merry Christmas Primark.

Words: Dwain Lucktung.  Assistant editor, Ctrl.Alt.Shift website.
Photo: Flickr user Vicky Morris

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