We are just as bad as the factory owners, for actually buying Primark Products! Its obvious to us all that there is a reason for the small price tags on their clothes... we all have a input into the sweatshops etc.. As consumers we should research into what we are buying and demand to know the truth from retailers about where our clothes come from. IT OUT RIGHT and we should use it!

By Sarah. Posted 1? 16 2009 at 1:25 ??.

The sad (and disgusting) part of your story is that the factory owners are using their own countrymen and women as slaves and taking advantage of them. Their greed know no bounds and they should be put out of business and sent packing back to where they came from.

By Doreen. Posted 1? 16 2009 at 4:37 ??.

This is disgraceful! and all of youse are just on about ur primark shops and that there from different countries and are apparantly getting better lives! If it was you getting that ammount of money you wouldnt be very pleased, whats good for one is good for another! byeee :)

By Sian & Kerry. Posted 1? 15 2009 at 1:02 ??.

252 POUNDS A WEEK IS A LOT OF MONEY WHEN YOURE ONLY LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF. IF THE SO CALLED SLAVES HAD A FAMILY THEN MAYBE THAT WOULD BE CRUEL BUT AS IT STANDS I DOUBT MANY OF THEM HAVE A FAMILY. PRIMARK IS GIVING IMMOGRANTS A BETER LIFE AND THEY SHOULD MAKE THE MOST OF IT!!!!! liam

By LIAM. Posted 1? 14 2009 at 10:08 ??.

Is primark actuallyy closing down?

and yes everyone knows you pay more for ethical products

By Shannon. Posted 1? 13 2009 at 7:52 ??.

Just a quick point - Primark does not employ these people - TNS does as far as I am aware. Can anyone honestly say that they know the exact conditions that everything they have bought has been made under?! No? Didn't think so. Can anyone remember just how much trouble M&S got into when they moved their manufacture abroad but were still putting 'made in the UK' stamps in? Did their prices go down? No! Don't get me wrong - what has happened is disgraceful but people wanting to be ethical should think about how much they pay in other shops and whether that actually means it's any better than shopping in Primark!

By anon. Posted 1? 13 2009 at 4:33 ??.

there is something worse than this in my opinion within the uk. it is called new deal. if you are on new deal you may get sent to work there on placement for your benefit which is less than what those workers are getting. so why does no-one say anything about new deal?

By donnajunkie. Posted 1? 13 2009 at 3:45 ??.

Of course it's no shock to those of us who think and care about what we buy. I think many people will not care so long as they can find a bargain, although cheap clothes are often a fallacy-buy cheap and you buy twice! Sadly it's the poor that are pitted against the poor and conned into thinking that they have a 'bargain' We should encourage people to reduce-resuse and recycle... Stop buying crap cheap clothes if you dont need them!!! Swap clothes with friends ( swap shop parties are becoming trendy) !! Take unwanted clothes to charity shops and shop here before buying new. Try and buy good quality clothes that last longer, wash better and are often made with more care because the wages are better. Check out FAIRTRADE options especially PeopleTree... Everybody wins and everybody along the chain is treated fairly and with respect... including you as the consumer!!

By sharon stone. Posted 1? 13 2009 at 3:20 ??.

i think that everyone needs to think its TNS that has the problem not Primark or anywhere else the media starts all problems they are talking about things being Primarks fault what are they wanting to do close the shops and make how many more people on the dole, then where would the economy be no one would have a job, most stores do this

By ruth. Posted 1? 13 2009 at 3:07 ??.

There isnt a straight solution to this...

On one side you have ILLEGAL immigrants

On the other you have Exploitation

These people shouldnt be here as they are illegal and they cant legally find work, so people give them jobs taking on a RISK and to compensate for that risk they give them a small wage!

Now this has come all out....you will see people starve...we have worsened the situation...well thats why i believe.

By Dan Harper. Posted 1? 13 2009 at 7:44 ??.

get these immigrants out and get the jobless to take these jobs or stop thier money to fund thier habits ...job done!!

By booner. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 11:46 ??.

Are you stupid enough to think that these factories supply only to Primark? This factories supply many different retailers that haven't been named and shamed what about the other 40% of tns knitwears business? All retailers have roughly the same costs for each unit....its just Primark dont put huge mark ups on the price before it hits the store to make profit they sell volume.

By laura. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 10:49 ??.

Why all the attack on primark?? As it was before it is the factory that has broken the ETI Code of Conduct. As much as it is terrible that people are working for less than minimum wage, it is the factory that should be held accountable!!!!
Primark makes contracts with who ever gives them the best deal like any other business. If the factory has signed to say that they will trade under the ETI Code of Conduct then it is only the factory that should recieve this publicity.
Who benefits in the long run??
Not the illegal immigrants that have taken this work. They now have no work!!
Not the consumer. We all live on a budget and Primark prices is what we need!
The government and our counry's budgets? No they have to deal with the unemployment costs!
The media benefits - did you buy the paper???

If manchester has no decent jobs i would work to survive - wouldn't you???

By Kate. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 10:44 ??.

This is no suprise to me. I worked in the store for almost a year and it was horrible. The treatment is appaling. I knew you can't get clothes these cheap without people being exploited. It's complete b.s that Sawar did not know about it. Balls to him and his dirty greedy hands. I hope the people involved in this slavery regret everyday they exploited the vunerable situations the workers faced!

By Paula A. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 10:35 ??.

who let these people into the country? their not even meant to be in the country. aren't the goverment/ welfare officers meant to do checks on people getting benifits the ads are on the telly all the time about benifit fraud!

By j h. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 11:02 ??.

hopefully, primark will start selling oil and gas soon, at a price thats not pie in the sky.

By si. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 7:50 ??.

the only dumbass in this situation is the worker who i willing to work for it!!i agree jealousy...on other retailers.!

By jaime. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 7:38 ??.

When i heard about this i was totally shocked. I am totally disgusted with this company's conduct making millions and treating people like dirt. They should be prosecuted to the fullest of uk law. Ime on a low income and bringing up children on my own there clothing is cheep but to what cost. TOTALLY DISGUSTING PRIMARK

By Andrew Summerfield. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 6:21 ??.

at the end of the day these people choose to work there. if people are that disgraced at it then the simple answer is dont shop there. but everyone still will!!!

By anon. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 4:23 ??.

at the end of the day these people are ILLEGAL immigrants and they are willing to work for £3 an hour at the end of the day you would all be moaning like many do if they were here claming benifits and sponging off the goverment and hard working tax payers like us. it is not primarks fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Rachel. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 4:50 ??.

"Ask yourself this, if they were here legally would they be working like this? I don't think so."

How about Ask if companies like PRIMARK were not willing to employ them illegally because its illegal...would they come here as readily??... I don't think so.

To all posts here about the fault of illegal immigrants... they come here because they know big companies like Pmark will employ them despite the law. Pmark and all other major companies employing illegal labour instead of local legal labour are to blame entirely!!! your argument doesn't stand up! AT ALL. you just want something for nothing and don't give a damn who pays the cost thats the problem and the illness that Primark is feeding.

Try making yourself a tee shirt and then decide if £3 is enough?

By anon. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 5:46 ??.

Since the BBC, in June, exposed Primark's disgraceful record of employing children in their factories abroad I, with the backing of Loreto, have been campaigning outside Primark in Luton against Child Labour. The campaign has received fantastic support from the Luton community with the banner holding around five hundred signatures. This latest exposure confirms all our worst fears - and if they treat workers here with such disregard, what are they capable of abroad and out of sight? Enough is enough.

By Jackie Gleeson. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 2:52 ??.

All this fuss about Primark? What many of us out here want to know is how these illegal immigrants are living and working unchecked in this country and seemingly able to claim benefits from the pot that we, as taxpayers, have contributed to for years of our working lives. Immigrants who, by the way, are in the direct employ of one of their own while only indirectly by Primark, which may or may not be aware of the, as your article suggests, illegal activities of their supplier.

By Lionheart. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 3:22 ??.

this is a disgrace, the only victims are the inoccent workers who are being exploited in every way possible. the real winners are primark & tns knitwear who live in million pound mansion drive around in expensive cars while there workers make enough money to make ends meet.

By maxwell James. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 11:00 ??.

I visited Primark when it opened in a blaze of publicity for some lingerie for my wife. I was met by a couldn't care less male employee in the lingerie department. The only females on duty were 3 girls more interested in talking about their boyfriends/love life than serving customers. I have never been back since and never will. As with price, you get what you pay for and dont think about the consequences. But they are all the same even the big brand names. Its all about profit

By Geoffrey Grand. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 8:29 ??.

I am a divorced mother who has to try and make ends meet after my ex decided he didnt need to make payments for our family home. I work for chinese people, I earn £3 an hour, I don't complain too loudly cos then I couldn't buy food or fuel or pay for my house.

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

By Joop. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 2:27 ??.

What people dont realise is that its not just primark its all the high street stores, i know that the same garment that primark will buy for £3 from a uk manufacturer and sell for £8 other high st stores buy the same garment at £3 from the same manufacturer but still sell it for £16.99 so this doesnt mean primark buy cheap and sell cheap because of cheap labour as other high st stores buy cheap but sell expensive even though it is made in cheap labour. At the end of the day i dont think primark should take all the blame, all high st stores buy from uk manufacturers only other high st stores that are well known make more profit on the garment and fool all of us.

To only earn £3 per hour is not slave labour to a poor illegal immigrant when in there own country £3 is a full weeks wage and they cant afford to feed there starving children they are happy with this wage as it goes a long way and can give there children food on the table and a good education. I say well done to the bosses that do let illegal immigrants work you may have just saved a poor mans family from starving to death and helped keep a roof over there heads and get educated.

By Anonymous786. Posted 1? 12 2009 at 12:44 ??.

I thnk its digusting that people are treated like this, theire human beings , don't tell me that primark and peococks don't know whats going on they know where the clothes are comming from, and how much they are, but nobody cares as long as the buisnesses are making money in primarks case hand over fist, its greed pure greed . the more money they make the better and the greedier they become. what a world we live in.

By anenomie mulser. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:55 ??.

These people must enjoy the extra money they are getting on top of the many benefits they must be claiming! They would be on the next plane home if they didn't like it!! Primark is the best thing since sliced bread and the prices are 'spot on' and for once the customer benefits for a change!!

By Pat . Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:28 ??.

I work out in China , and I can tell you a few stories about some of the big U.K brands and their ideas of "ethical trading"
you people have no idea about what really goes on with the big shed retailers. Boy do you guys need to get real,
I'm afraid the ONLY clean company I have dealings with is I*EA.

By John. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:15 ??.

i havent shoped there since panarama on bbc .i think it is shocing they can treat workers like that in our own country cheap never means cheap theres always a price no one can make cloths that cheap some one always suffers oh u never hear about its hush all the way whoes going to pay 20pounds when primark can do it for 10pounds jo blogs dont c the suffering behind cheap bargin the primark boss ant worred long as he makeing money they dont care how they make it as long as they do

By lyne cooper. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:46 ??.

Do we know the exact percentage of illegal workers in that factory, might be a few only, there cannot be 100% or 50%. We must understand that this is a plan launched by the big stores to let Primark and their suppliers down. Newspapers should also investigate properly and must tell the right numbers of the illegal, like 2 to 3 or 100 to 400. They just try to exploit it too.

By William John. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:41 ??.

We might get cheap clothes, but I think in the long run we pay a lot more, these people push down wages, sometimes claim benefits, which of course comes from the taxpayer, and what about health care who pays for that, in the long run it is not really worth it.

By marie lamb. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:48 ??.

This was going on for years, don't know why action has been taken now. Why not in the past, wuch reports were published? We have to think about it!

By Saleem. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:47 ??.

This is slightly jumping on the band wagon, it says peacocks are also supplied but the whole article is directed at Primark, much like the criticism from Panorama where the presenter actually said this a garment from a large UK and US store who we won't name, completely unfair. And...

By Dave. Posted January 11 2009 at 7:04 PM.
To Rob and other people who posted similar disgusting comments.Explotation needs to be punish severely,it doesn't matter where people are from.

to that I say if exploitation deserves to be punished severely, then we should punish the illegal immigrants who "exploit" our country's foreign policy and also benefit system. That argument is completely flawed!

By Tom Gee. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:28 ??.

there illegal immagrants, they shouldnt even be here. if they came here properly they could complain about getting paid such low wages. But as it stands they dont have an opinion in anything that goes on in this country.

By anon. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:44 ??.

There are hundreds of young people under the age of 18 working for £3.53 a hour plus they are taxed on this . think we should be a bit more concerned with the way we under value these young people who are willing to work and pay there way

By Louise. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:00 ??.

They are ILLEGAL immigrants. Shouldn't even be here and they are not FORCED to work long hours for low pay, they CHOOSE to.

They can always go back to where they came from.

By A WOOD. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:41 ??.

Lets be honest it all boils down to supply and demand. Here in "Credit Crunch" Britain we all are tightening our belts, so what usually goes first? the luxuries, so M&S will bear the brunt this year on the food side (lets face it the clothing side has been struggling for a while). Kids are still growing and will need to be fed! So who are the winners?? clothes Primark,Peacocks, Asda and Tesco why? simply because they have products that last for a fraction of the price paid else where (M&S,Next H&M). to be honest most families who are already struggling wont care how the garments are made, its more of how much will it cost and how long will it last. some other observation.... We were all eco friendly at the beginning of 2008, is it me or has that gone out the window since the credit crunch??

By boaby the barman. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:38 ??.

Its not just Primark that do this there are other shops like Next, Pecocks so whats the big deal about Primark? It's a popular shop loved by everyone and cheap and cheerful. In my eyes it's jealousy.

By Jade ... Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:33 ??.

its a disgrace
im still going to shop there

cheap + credit crunch = hellloooooooooooo ££

By flogse. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:08 ??.

I think that its about £2.50 too much personally...... but on the other hand really they come in to our country .... Work for stuipidly low wages which then push's the other british people out of the job. Also does anyone know just how much young apprentices receve when they start out on an apprenticeship? ... £3.30 minimum ... which at most companies is all they get. Its not like young people dont have anything to pay for ... My car insurace on a 1litre nissan micra 1999 V reg was £1875 in the first year (WITH a 20% discount for having a pass plus) and for me a car is not a luxary .. its needed to go to and from work. After paying towards housing/food/clothes/tax/and many more things ... wheres my money go .... NOT FAR. so ive been there ... ive done it and ive got the T SHIRT to prove it ... !

By Dave. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:04 ??.

To Rob and other people who posted similar disgusting comments.Explotation needs to be punish severely,it doesn't matter where people are from.

By Laura Fisher. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:10 ??.

They are here in the UK illegally, breaking our laws. So its slightly ironic and outrageous that laws put in place to protect people should apply to them!
So in my opinion such laws as the minimum wage do not apply to them.

Ask yourself this, if they were here legally would they be working like this? I don't think so. Again I think this highlights how out of control immigration is in this country whether it be legal or illilegal, and everyone is avoiding the issure by focusing on things like Primart employing illegals on low rates.

If this governement does not get a hold on immigration, we will see rises in supporters of parties such as the BNP and no one wants that.

By Alex. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 6:22 ??.

That reminds me, I need a trip to Primark! Won't stop me shopping there at all. We want a Primark in our town, they are fantastic!

By Cat. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 6:34 ??.

ever since Primark opened . The big name stores have been out to get them. These phoney big names have been ripping the british public off blind for many many years and its about time they got real competition. I for one have found it a boon to shop there. Nobody likes workers to be exploited, illegal or otherwise, but you have to understand that without this lowly income they will probably have none as they dont qualify for benefits and no-one else is prepared to do the job even for double money. By all means improve conditions and wages for the workers, however the whole argument smacks of jealousy by the big name stores. res.

By grey. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 6:47 ??.

Who knows how many more factories in UK are working like TNS.

By Raja. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 5:21 ??.

Some of these comments are sickening. Yes, the workers may be illegal immigrants, but they are still HUMAN BEINGS who are being treated worse than dogs. Isn't it obvious how much they want a better life, and how hard they're willing to work for it, when you see how they're still coming to work despite such horrible conditions? That's more effort than loads of white British people put in - British-born people who think they don't have to work and that the state owes them a living. These immigrant workers are wearing their fingers to the bone for peanuts when "native" people won't even get out of bed. No one should be treated like this. We are losing our humanity if we think it's acceptable to have sweatshops on our front steps.

By Nina. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 5:26 ??.

It is undoubtedly despicable to exploit anyone. However these immigrants are in the country illegally and that is why they cannot earn a decent wage. They are breaking our laws.

By Chrissie McCall. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 4:44 ??.

I dont shop in Primark, because i find it too disorganised, too many people and far too busy. I dont agree with the illegal immigrants being taken advantage of and the people who post saying they dont care, they should be ashamed of themselves, would you allow somebody in your family to be explolited like that??

It is also concerns me that as a society we care more about animals welfare than out fellow humans beings, illegal or not they are still human!!!!!

By Rob. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 4:30 ??.

Great, now the prices will go up, Primark is practically the only shop that sells stuff cheap nowadays, its alright for rich journalists at the bbc and media, you can afford to be ethical. Who cares that the workers are only earning £3. They are illegal and shouldn't be here in the first place. I doubt if they will thank you either, now they will no job to go too.

By radz. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 3:33 ??.

The real headline should be "Clothes still make in UK shocker!"

By Jones. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:59 ??.

I sympathise with illegal immigrants - they come here to try to improve their lives and send money back home (like you and me would if we were in that situation) and they get exploited. They do need to earn a living somewhere and if their wages are so low, they understandably they will claim benefits. BUT on the other hand, if Britain was tougher about the black market jobs and tougher about handing out benefits, perhaps they country would have less illegal immegrants and less legal ones claiming benefits.

The fashion industry and media are to blame too. They change their garments about 6 times a year and we all slavishly follow suit like sheep. We should learn to make do with the clothes we have, crammed in our wardrobes, and only buy new, classic, quality clothes which are Britishmade or EU made in legal factories, where taxes are paid and where people can manage to survive on their wages.

Bring the manufacturing jobs back to the UK because now that the Govt and companies have sent our service industry to the 3rd world coutries there are no jobs left for the tax-paying workers of Britain. Stop expecting us to spend spend spend to help the economy. Let's stop listening to the fashion industry, celebrities and the media, stop buying clothes. Let's face it, fashion just repeats anyway time and time again.

By SarahinFrance. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 1:50 ??.

so these workers get £3.00ph(tax free), I WANT A JOB HERE PLEASE, i currently get £8.45ph(not tax free) and bring home less than these workers. when will this government realise that they are robbing the "workers" of this country blind, when is it going to stop, please justify why we pay 75% of "our hard earned money to the tax hungry leeches

By si. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:43 ??.

This is the reality of modern day manufacturing in the UK, the big chains can get cheaper prices overseas so you have to compete to stay in business, the only variable you have is the cost of labour as the cost of materials and overheads cannot be changed, so do you go out of business or employ cheaper labour? - and lets be realistic its not forced labour, none of these workers are forced, they chose to work in the conditions and the hours that they do, if you try and increase the price by 10p let alone ££'s the chains will walk away so it is a vicious circle and the only option open to manufacturers is to compete or effectively go out of business and how many more jobs would that take with it??? If a munufacturer makes a profit in this day and age then its an exception to the general rule where most of us struggle to survive and wonder whether we will survive another year.

By Manufacturer. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:29 ??.

I have been trying to tell friends for ages why I refuse to shop here ,one persons bargain is anothers explotation and its just not going to stop until we stay away in droves.The stuff doesnt last five minutes anyway and everyone looks the same ,get some style people shop around .

By Jacqueline. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:56 ??.

Capitalism can't thrive by paying people a fair wage or setting fair prices, yet we all go along with working ourselves ragged and being ripped off with big fat smiles on our faces.

By Lolly. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:30 ??.

It was obvious that this was happening and will continue to happen whilst consumers have limited funds to spend on clothing. My outrage comes from the fact that Primark and TNS are permitted to continue to trade - should they not be fined, very closely monitored for ever more and then shut down if found lacking? We can be outraged by Prince Harry, Big Brother and Prince Philip but still allow companies to abuse workers in this way so that the fat cat owners can continue to live a lifestyle that many of us honest people can only dream about. Shame on Britain for allowing this to happen.

By Lizzie. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:26 ??.

everyone should boycott the shops, outragious

By zoe. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 11:05 ??.

To all the people who say its not Primarks fault, how can it not be?? They signed up and agreed to audit their suppliers for these exact issues. They turn a blind eye and ignore whats happening. I have been in the clothing trade for decades and can tell you that this is happening all over the UK in similar knitwear factories. Manchester has had this problem for years. I have see it first hand and I even know the people involved. Its almost accepted practice and something now needs to be done about it.

By S Singh. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:54 ??.

Well done BBC for exposing this dispicable trade. In a civilized country built on principles of protection of its citizens it is shameful and unacceptable that vunerable people can be worked to the bone in Victorian conditions. Even worse is the fact that companies such as Primark can reap millions and millions on the exploitation of those poor people. Look foward to the BBC feature and hope a national boycott of Primark begins. If you're proud to be British and everything we stand for don't darken their doorstep again!

By Chris Adams. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:46 ??.

Its no different to kids being paid 9 quid for a paper round which can take over two hours to do but they do it as they want the money.

By m. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:32 ??.

Yes but thats not the point,the point is its illegal and the employers need to be charged for paying out ust £3 an hour,i know kids of 16 that wouldnt get out of bed for that!

By mark. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:34 ??.

This is simply disgusting that in a so called civilised place as the UK this is allowed to happen, no wonder things are in the state they are in in the the UK

By Val. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:30 ??.

It's all jealousy by the big name stores. Primark are a very good store. They buy cheap, and they sell cheap. The big name stores buy cheap, and sell dear. Pure jealousy, and GREED,

By Geoff Stringer. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:13 ??.

well how do you think they manage to keep the prices as low as they do.
You cannot have it all ways.
That is just a fact!!!

By michelle Cumming. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:07 ??.

Where EXACTLY do people think cheap prices come from?

By Gordon. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:04 ??.

hopefully after this , primark will follow the other stores that have closed ... its a disgrace ( and the stuff they sell is shocking)

By rosie. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 10:00 ??.

Nobody is making them work. If they don't like the wages nobody is making them stay. Also if they are claiming benefit another £130 a week is lovely thank you very much.

By Chris Driscoll. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:52 ??.

All primark stores should be closed until every supplier is properly vetted. This is totally unacceptable and a true disgrace.

By Mike. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:33 ??.

I live and work in Spain, ok not in the same industry but if you add up the hours of work I put in and the money I earn....there is very little difference between what I'm earning and what they're earning and yet no one would say I was exploited....this still happens all over Europe in lots of industries!!!

By dj. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:33 ??.

There are laws - immigration / minimum wages.
Implement them.
If they cannot be implemented get rid of the laws.

By Shah. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 9:00 ??.

I am not surprised. Here in Austria Tutoring Institutes pay their teachers only 5 Euros an hour to coach school pupils which is half the rate that cleaners get paid.

By Rodney. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 8:21 ??.

I think some people here may be missing a point, obviously primark are makeing a profit, but they are buying cheap and Selling cheap. it is the other stores that are buying cheap then selling Expensive that should be Shamed...

By Steve EEE. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 7:53 ??.

Nothing new here its been going on for years & years - I worked for 6 years in the textile industry making clothes for Jaegar and M&S and there were woman in our factory that were only earning roughly 52 quid for a 40 hour week - thats 1.30 per hour! That was the joys of piecework! 80's equivalent to slave labour!!

By Irene. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 6:11 ??.

Sadly,you will not print this but none of those employees be it in Asia,Manchester or Monaco are being forced to show up for work.For many it is better to have £3 an hour than £0 an hour.It is all relative in Africa there are long lines for the jobs as they too better have something than nothing.Typical change the laws and these poor Africans will have no wage at all which is greater destruction.You have to start somewhere in the pecking order of life.No jobs No Chance.Low paid jobs like in the UK in 18th Century were garcely but we built quality and wages went up correspondingly.

By James Walker. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 4:23 ??.

Listen to me because having worked in the garment trade for over 25 years I know what is going on. Most clothing now for all the high street stores are made out of the uk. The factories in Morocco they are lucky to earn as little as 1500 Dirams that's around $170 a month. Vietnam factories they earn around $60 a month. Not only Primark but all the clothing high street stores are doing this. This is why clothing is so cheap. But you have to ask yourself if these people in these factories were not doing this what else could they do and would the customers in the UK be prepaired to pay more.

By Laila.. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 4:38 ??.

there gettin paid aren't they?
so whats the big deal

By phoenix. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 3:56 ??.

what all we can see in this case is that uk considered itself to be the first world but the things which are happening in the uk is worst than the third world countries...like tns knitwears there could be many other factories in uk which would be exploiting all the illegal and asylum immigrants..itz the bloody crap that the person is being paid 3 pounds per hour and he or she is working 84 hrs a week..itz just because of the units like tns knitwear that the people from less developed countries are coming illegaly to uk..i think uk govt should take some strong steps to stop all this crap..

By prashant chopra. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 3:57 ??.

No surprise, shirley??
Little sympathy for illegal immigrants either as they should not be here. They are breaking UK laws ... can't expect to get minimum wage laws enforced for them can they, or can we? Get real!
In the current economic climate illegal immigrants are undermining local workers & wages ...
They can go home if they dont like it can't they?
Not that I'm condoning Primark - if they want goods produced locally as it's quicker then they should pay a fair wage to local resident legal workers ... but would shoppers buy at the price that could result? Funny old thing capitalism eh?

By A Mackem. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:43 ??.

This is horrible to read. What strikes me though is how all of this is being labeled as Primark, when you read what there saying it is actually the factory that provide clothing for them that employ cheap labour. Ok it is not fair, but why is Primark the lead in all of this, if we take the story then why is it Peacocks are not getting hastle over it, just Primark, i will tell you why, because there a bigger company, and have more to loose, Primark have done nothing illigal apart from not been aware of the things happening in other companies they hire.

By sean. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:46 ??.

firstly, of course they will use cheap staff as it is hard to make a profit from an item which is at least half if not more the normal retail price!

Secondly, why would these workers accept these conditions! many other factories will pay minimum wage! on the flip side why should non UK citizens (legal) get paid minimum wage? surely these laws protect british citizens but those coming here because they are in the EU and just can should accept what they get paid, change their jobs or go home!

By Amy . Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:13 ??.

this slavery.Primark shuold be fined heavily.people make noise about this illegal working.UK need workers and some British workers are too lazy/proud to do some of these jobs so let the foregners who want to do them{jobs}do so.some people dont want to work coz they know thet will claim benefits and its these illegal workers that are supporting theselazy benefit scroungers by wayof paying N.I.and PAYE.most illegal workers are hard working,honest{self respecting }and think scrounging for benefits is disgusting.give them work permits coz u cant do without them.they generate millions of money into the Gvnt coffers yet some UK scroungers are milking the Gvnt claiming benefits.im against slave wages and illegal working but im saying this is the Gvmnts faulty.

By maxima.. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:20 ??.

£3 per hour!!!

Gizajob, that's almost as good as incapacity benefit.

Bloody foreign spongers. :-(

By NuLabour not working . Posted 1? 11 2009 at 2:00 ??.

Oh please - stop fawning surprise!!

Do you really think they pay minimum wage when we pay £8 for a dress?

And why is this such a shock because it's happening in our own country? Why is this more disgusting and 'a shock' than the sweatshops in Asia and Africa where people are lucky to earn $3/day and work 18 hour days??

If you want ethical products you have to pay a bit more, everyone knows that!

By Fiona. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 1:12 ??.

Surely absolutely no-one will be surprised to read this. Primark's clothes are so cheap, it couldn't be for any reason other than exploitation in the supply process.

Dan

By dan. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:52 ??.

The fallacy of UK laws. If people who are willing to work are at least given the status to do so, then we will be getting tax revenues from their hard work. Instead, they are demonised and the result is they work, we get no tax from the labour and no one is better off bar the wily enterpreurs. Very ironic especially now that the treasury's coffers are emptier than a 3 year old's piggy bank.

By anthony. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:54 ??.

truly disgusting

By mark wade. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:06 ??.

This has been going on for years its not just primark manchester is full of mills like these churning out this cheap clothing ..If you want to stop this trade in cheap labour you have to licence these premises.and close the ones down who cheat the system millions is pouring out of britain daily in lost taxes...its time to clamp down on people making millions out of the slave trade in britain.

By Ace Riley. Posted 1? 11 2009 at 12:19 ??.

what do you expect when people who should not be in the country work for nothing its up to them. If they were allowed to be here then they could earn a better wage!.

By emma. Posted 1? 10 2009 at 11:34 ??.