Forever 21 told to release supply chain documents

US: Forever 21 told to release supply chain documents

By Leonie Barrie | 15 March 2013

Fast fashion retailer Forever 21 has been ordered by a court to hand over documents on wages and overtime as part of an ongoing investigation into labour law violations among the contractors and manufacturers who supply its apparel.

The Los Angeles-based retailer was given ten days from 7 March to produce the requested documents.

A subpoena was initially issued following a sweep of garment sewing factories in downtown Los Angeles by the US Department of Labor last August.

The investigation uncovered minimum wage and overtime violations in workshops producing goods for major garment retailers.

But Forever 21 has refused to provide back-up documents.

"Garment workers historically have been subjected to exploitation and paid substandard wages," said Solicitor of Labor M Patricia Smith.

"The order underscores that everyone in the supply chain has a responsibility to ensure that workers receive the federal minimum wage and earned overtime, and it demonstrates our commitment to enforcing those protections despite tactics designed to obscure the employment relationship."

The investigation has focused on whether Forever 21 had violated the "hot goods" provision of the the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which prohibits employers from shipping any goods produced in violation of the act's minimum wage, overtime or child labour standards.

Sectors: Apparel, Manufacturing, Social & environmental responsibility, Sourcing