Contractors who deliver goods for IKEA are employing drivers from other countries to work in the supply chain continuously for months at a time. They are paying the drivers lower wages despite their work being usually in higher waged countries, forcing them to live, eat and sleep in their trucks. This breaches a central principle of the EU that workers should receive local conditions for local work.
Over two years ITF unions have been meeting with IKEA about the problems in the retail giant’s supply chain. However, IKEA has refused the unions’ offer to work together on a solution.
This week ITF unions will be outside IKEA stores in several European countries telling customers the truth about what it is like transporting IKEA products. Activists will be asking customers to call on IKEA to ensure the drivers in their supply chain get local conditions for local work.
Lars Lindgren, president of the Swedish Transport Workers’ Union, said: “The drivers who keep the IKEA economy moving are busier with surviving everyday, rather than driving. IKEA is the economic employer in this chain of exploitation, and it needs to take more action to stop this abuse, it can give these workers a real Christmas present. We are ready to talk to IKEA again to find a solution to this problem.”
Search #therealIKEA on social media.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Andy Khan-Gordon, ITF Campaign Communications
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7940 9282 / +44 (0)7711 356 964
Email: khan-gordon_andy@itf.org.uk
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