Stockholm:
Sweden’s H&M, the world’s second-most significant style retailer, stated on Monday it was shocked by the use of deadly force against protesters in Myanmar and that it had paused putting orders in the nation.
Police and military have killed more than 50 persons to quell day-to-day demonstrations and strikes against a February 1 military coup, according to the United Nations final week.
H&M has about 45 direct suppliers in Myanmar, it stated on its web-site, and has sourced in the nation for seven years.
“Although we refrain from taking any immediate action regarding our long-term presence in the country, we have at this point paused placing new orders with our suppliers,” Serkan Tanka, Country Manager Myanmar, stated in an e mail.
“This is due to practical difficulties and an unpredictable situation limiting our ability to operate in the country, including challenges related to manufacturing and infrastructure, raw material imports and transport of finished goods.”
Two protesters have been killed by gunshot wounds to the head in Myanmar on Monday, witnesses stated, even though shops, factories and banks have been closed in the key city Yangon as component of the uprising against the country’s military rulers.
Tanka stated H&M was really concerned about the predicament in the nation and that it was in dialogue with UN agencies, diplomatic representatives, human rights specialists, trade unions and other multinational businesses.
“These consultations will guide us in any future decision in relation to how we as a company can best contribute to positive developments in accordance with the will of the people in Myanmar,” he stated.
Myanmar’s garment sector is smaller sized than that of neighbouring nations Bangladesh, China and Thailand. However, its about 600 factories are substantial employers, delivering jobs for about 450,000 workers in 2020, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association.
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