The Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), an independent labor rights monitoring organization focused on protecting the rights of workers who sew apparel and make other products sold in the United States, has announced Hanesbrands and Gildan Activewear are among a list of companies that have illegally withheld $2 million in compensation to 831 factory workers in the town of Ilopango, El Salvador.
According to PPAI Media, citing findings from the Salvadoran Ministry of Labor, 831 workers at the APS factory in Ilopango had wages withheld. The employees manufactured clothing for Gildan, Hanes, and Specialized Bicycle Components, a biking apparel brand.
Gildan has now agreed to pay $1.34 million of what was owed to the workers, which is two-thirds of the outstanding balance.
By not immediately paying all wages and terminal compensation upon the factory closure (two years ago), Hanesbrands and Gildan violated El Salvador’s labor law, according to PPAI.
