Man Made Disaster
Brands risk image in Bangladesh disaster response
Global clothing brands involved in Bangladesh's troubled garment industry responded in starkly different ways to the building collapse that killed more than 600 people. Some quickly acknowledged their links to the tragedy and promised compensation. Others denied they authorised work at factories in the building even when their labels were found in the rubble.
Some retailers rethink roles in Bangladesh
Ever since a building with garment factories collapsed in Bangladesh a week ago, killing more than 600 people, Western apparel companies with ties to the country have scrambled to address public concerns about working conditions there.
Benetton repeatedly revised its accounts of goods produced at one of the factories, while officials at Gap, the Children's Place and other retailers huddled to figure out how to improve conditions, and some debated whether to remain in Bangladesh at all.
Amazon launches Kindle Fire HD 8.9 in Japan
Amazon's Kindle Fire HD 8.9, the large-screen version of its best-selling tablet is now in Japan, as well as in the the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain.
It was made available at a lower the price than the US, with the Wi-Fi version being sold for only USD269 while the price for the 4G version starts at USD399.
Dave Limp, Vice President, Amazon Kindle, explained that as the company expanded Kindle Fire HD 8.9" to Europe and Japan, it was able to increase production volumes and decrease the cost.
Walmart warns suppliers on stricter policy
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has alerted its global suppliers that it will immediately drop them if they subcontract their work to factories that haven't been authorized by the discounter. This stricter contracting rule, along with other changes to its policy, comes amid increasing calls for better safety oversight after a deadly fire at a Bangladesh factory that supplied clothing to Walmart and other retailers.
Walmart toughens supplier policies
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is warning suppliers that it is adopting a "zero tolerance policy" for violations of its global sourcing standards, and soon plans to immediately sever ties with anyone who subcontracts work to factories without the retailer's knowledge.
The changes, which begin taking effect on 1 March, come after Wal-Mart clothing was found at a Bangladesh factory where a fire killed 112 people in November – a factory the company said was no longer supposed to be making its clothes.
Bangladeshi blaze forces Walmart to admit supply chain beyond control
The factory fire that killed more than 100 garment workers in Bangladesh has forced the world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores, to concede that it needs to do more to control its supply chain and keep unauthorised manufacturers out.
Beleaguered Groupon CEO says will fire himself if needed
Groupon Inc CEO Andrew Mason, under fire for a plunging share price and tapering growth, declared on Wednesday he would fire himself if he ever thought he was the wrong man for the job.
Mason, whose performance at the helm will come under scrutiny from company directors during a regular board meeting on Thursday, said it would be "weird" if they did not. But he said he believed the board was comfortable with his strategy.
Amazon introduces Japanese Kindle Store
Amazon's Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is coming to Japan, along with a brand new Kindle Store with the largest selection of books, Oricon best sellers in books, bunko, and manga, and over 50,000 Japanese-language titles.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon.com Founder and CEO said that after 12 years of selling print books on Amazon.co.jp, the company is finally offering its digital stock to anyone in Japan with a Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Fire, Android phone, Android tablet, iPhone, or iPad.
Gap Inc. unveils safety action plan for Bangladesh facilities
Global clothing retailer Gap Inc. recently announced a significant initiative to improve building and fire safety standards across the company’s approved third-party garment manufacturing factories in Bangladesh.
The program is seen as a critical step forward in addressing safety issues in Bangladesh’s apparel industry.
Apple labour fixes in China said ahead of schedule
The labour group hired by Apple Inc. to assess working conditions at three manufacturing plants in China said on Tuesday that the improvements it recommended in March are being implemented ahead of schedule.
The Fair Labour Association (FLA) said in a progress report that Apple Inc.'s largest supplier, Foxconn, had made all 195 improvements to working conditions that were due by the end of May. Foxconn also completed 89 of the 165 improvements due by next July.
