Gap Inc. by mguerrero on emaze

Gap Inc.

Multinational Corporations

A look into the corporation

-It's headquarters are located in San Francisco, CA.

-It is the parent company of Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Athleta, and Intermix.

-It offers clothing, shoes and sportswear,

They support the LGBTQ community by voting against discriminatory laws.

They are protecting jobs for roughly a million workers in 900 different factories around the world.

They help the environment by reducing waste, environmental footprint, and reducing its GHG emissions. Also, through conservation measures and energy efficiency.

Has a P.A.C.E (Personal Advancement & Career Enhancement), that promotes gender equality by offering the female workers technical training and life skills need to succeed in life.

Their image at plain sight

Like many companies, Gap Inc. needs to portray a good image, and they do so by giving a good impression of themselves through there website. To begin with among the main title tabs is one named " responsibility", where there aim is to create an impact on the environment, human rights, employees, and the community.

For example: What it takes to protect 1 million garment workers, helping women give birth safely and animal welfare policies.

WEbsite impression

With a workforce of about 150,000 employees and 3700 stores around the world, Gap Inc. heavily relies on outsourcing, specially those in third world countries. They operate in countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and China exploiting the work force to its maximum potential.

Gap inc. around the world

LAbor Controversies

Gap Inc. has been involved in several labor scandals, including a class action lawsuit against Gap Inc. and other companies alleging that sweatshop workers in Saipan were not paid for overtime work, subjected to forced abortion and had to work under hazardous conditions.
It was also found that they did not pay child workers in Jordan for up to 6 months after an extensive 110 hours of work a week.
BBC showed footage of child labor in Gap stores in India.

Garment industry in Bangladesh

Child Labor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yafZp8VTbc

watch?v=5yafZp8VTbc

After the various scandals, Gap Inc. has never admitted liability, not even with the BBC broadcast of child labor in India. They always agree settlements, for example in the " Saipan Scandal" they reached an agreements worth $20 million. Till today, the company has improved its conditions, but they still lack full rights. In 2014 Gaps' CEO said he would raise the minimum wage of 65,000 US employees only.

results

recent unethical/ illegal activities

2011: Jivah a 12 year old from New Delhi shares his story:

:The men came looking for us in July. They told my parents that, if they sent me to work in the city, they won't have to work in the farms."

"I've been told I have to work off the fee the owner paid for me so I can go home, but I am working for free."

"'Our hours are hard and violence is used against us if we don't work hard enough. This is a big order for abroad, they keep telling us that."

In 2008, a senate subcommittee hearing revealed that the Gap was contracting work out to Chinese and Korean-owned factories on the U.S. territory of Saipan.

Countless announced and none announced sweatshops around the world. ( 51% announced)
Child labor
Unsafe workplace
Pay delay and cuts
extensive hours
physical abuse

Gap Is Starting To Make Clothes In Myanmar, Where Workers Are Horribly Mistreated

More stories: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/gap-inc/

More

In China, Gap was among a number of clothing retailers linked to environmental violations.The country’s textile industry produces up to 2.5 billion tons of wastewater and other harmful pollutants every year, most of which end up in China’s water bodies, soil, and groundwater.

In November 2012, uncontrolled fire due to unsafe workplace, kills 111 in Bangladesh.

What is being done

Many investigations are always going on regarding the companies controversies. Current investigations such as New York investigating for unpredicatable hours inside the nation. Gap Inc. Is being monitored very closely specially in places were there has been violations before.

Human rights has intervened aswell, accusing gap of breaking its own code of conduct.

Now a days Huge corporations like Gap inc. which is the biggest retailer in the United States, are abusing of power brought by money. Companies like Gap inc. tend to give a good impression, but what few know is that they are unethical and are constantly violating the law. Today it is difficult to know under what conditions your afforded product is made. These companies keep hidden how they work, turning a blind eye to labor, human rights, and the environment.

conclusion

bibliography

http://www.gapinc.com/content/gapinc/html.html

http://www.treehugger.com/style/are-these-unethical-fashion-brands-hiding-in-your-closet.html

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/oct/28/ethicalbusiness.india

https://catherineahn.wordpress.com/unethical-practice-of-american-business-sweatshops/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gap_Inc.