Campaign for a Supermarket Watchdog
For several years War on Want has been uncovering evidence of UK supermarkets’ exploitation of overseas workers, including garment workers, flower workers and tea pickers.
Supermarkets have used their buyer power to squeeze suppliers and drive down pay and working conditions around the world. This means the people that make the clothes and grow the food sold in UK supermarkets are often poorly paid, overworked, work in unsafe conditions and are discouraged from joining trade unions. We wouldn’t accept this situation in the UK, so why should they?
Following the failure of a 10 year old voluntary code, the Competition Commission recommended that the government should create an independent watchdog (now called the Groceries Code Adjudicator) to redress the balance of power and ensure that supermarkets stop bullying their suppliers. The watchdog will oversee and enforce the Code of Practice that governs the relationship between supermarkets and their suppliers, in order to stop unfair practices.
In the run-up to the 2010 general election, all the major political parties committed to creating a watchdog - testament to sustained campaigning by a broad coalition led by War on Want and others in the Tescopoly alliance. However, since the election the coalition government has dragged its feet as big supermarkets relentlessly lobbied them to prevent a watchdog being set up.
In May 2011 the government finally released its draft Bill outlining the watchdog's role. As a result of continued pressure from campaigners, some important powers survived the supermarkets' lobbying. However, others - like the power to fine supermarkets that break the Code and the ability to investigate complaints from trade unions - have been watered down.
As the Bill edges closer to becoming law, War on Want will continue to campaign for the strongest possible watchdog and the greatest possible protection for suppliers and workers, both in the UK and overseas.
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This webpage has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this webpage are the sole responsibility of War on Want and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. |
