The last few weeks haven’t been the most smooth sailing for Khaadi, considering how the brand has been battling with a massive PR scandal
Over the last few weeks Khaadi has been under scrutiny for allegedly mistreating their workers.
Factory doors were closed and over 124 workers’s jobs hung in the balance. Another allegation levied against the brand was that 32 workers were removed from their jobs because they tried to form a union.
Working condition in #Khaadi. Factory gatewas closed for 32 workers. 124 more workers' job is on risk as all were veryactive in unionization pic.twitter.com/wT6H4sFrrA
— Zehra (@zehra1akhan) May 25, 2017
People began protesting outside major Khaadi outlets in Karachi and Lahore.
To add more fuel to the fire, a campaign to #BoycottKhaadi was launched and it gained much traction on the internet.
Let's boycott Khaadi products this Eid until they give their workers due rights!#BoycottKhaadi
— Minerwa Tahir (@minerwatahir) June 5, 2017
I'm ashamed to have bought Khaadi products because the company shamelessly exploits its workers n doesnt pay minimum wage#BoycottKhaadi
— Fawad Hasan (@FawadHazan) June 5, 2017
The basics of the whole situation with Khaadi have been explained rather succinctly by this dude
Some basic facts about Khaadi workers’ issue:-Khaadi deprives its hardworking labourers of their basic rights-The…
Posted by Fawad Hasan on Dienstag, 6. Juni 2017
Soon after this all began, Khaadi released a statement denying any involvement in the scandal
Khaadi shared an official statement, saying that they did not fire any of their employees from the factory and that the news of mistreatment of factory workers in nothing but hearsay and baseless rumors.
Initially our viewpoint was not to respond to what is nothing but malicious and libelous content, but we now feel we owe it to our patrons to clarify the matter. We therefore categorically confirm that Khaadi has NOT terminated 32 of its employees.
A new development in this whole fiasco is that Khaadi has agreed to the demands of the aggrieved workers.
This is the agreement that was signed between Khaadi and the National Trade Union Federation.
The NTUF and #Khaadi agreement. Agrees to increase salaries, provide clean water. pic.twitter.com/VEWlUq6Xz1
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) June 6, 2017
According to this agreement, Khaadi has signed off on the following things in agreement with the National Trade Union Federation, which represents the wronged workers
- a minimum wage of PKR 15,000
- providing a safe and clean working environment for their workers
- the provision of jobs for the 125 workers who were initially locked out of the factory
- providing Eid bonuses
- upholding the law with regards to overtime and working hours.
Great news: #Khaadi brought to its knees and has agreed to all demands put forward by its workers!
Power to the people!! pic.twitter.com/wQ4kGFCKVP— Fawad Hasan (@FawadHazan) June 6, 2017
In their official statement, earlier, the brand called the situation ‘hearsay’ and shoved the matter to the side on the basis of it being ‘fake’. However with this agreement between the company and trade union leaders, all of that raises a lot of questions with regards to their earlier statement.
If Khaadi brushed off the entire fiasco as bogus and a ‘plot of ruin their image’ then why have they agreed to the terms the NTUF placed in front of them at all?
We’ve reached out to the brand’s representatives and will be sharing their side of this new development.