Kmart Australia

Maid in India', a 2012 report by two Dutch NGOs (SOMO and ICN) revealed how workers in the South Indian garment and textile industry continue to suffer exploitative working conditions while making garments for Western brands. While some recent improvements have been made, thousands of girls work under recruitment and employment schemes that amount to bonded labour. This company was shown to be sourcing from one or more of the four garment manufacturers investigated. While they did respond to a review request, it is unclear whether they are taking sufficient actions to address the problems. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
[Source 2012][More on Workers Rights]

Named and shamed in the 2014 CHOICE Shonky Awards. Some Kmart swimsuit labels proclaim that it may become see-through when wet, and users should avoid excessive contact with suntan lotions, oils, rough surfaces, heated pools and spas treated with harsh chemicals.
[Source 2014][More on Irresponsible Marketing]

This 2013 investigative report by Four Corners reveals that this company ordered clothes from factories in Bangladesh that did not meet international standards. Workers in Dhaka described unacceptable conditions that see them work long hours for little pay, sometimes under the threat of abuse if deadlines are not met. [Listed under Information due to age of report]
[Source 2013][More on Workers Rights]

Two work experience students were injured at Kmart stores (one in 2010, one in 2011) when their arms were pulled into a lay-by conveyor. On 24 May 2013 Kmart Australia Ltd was convicted by WorkSafe on both counts and fined an aggregate sum of $80,000 and costs of $7,665.60.
[Source 2013][More on Workers Rights]

The Apparel and Footwear Supply Chain Transparency Pledge (Transparency Pledge) helps demonstrate apparel and footwear companies' commitment towards greater transparency in their manufacturing supply chain. Transparency of a company's manufacturing supply chain better enables a company to collaborate with civil society in identifying, assessing, and avoiding actual or potential adverse human rights impacts. This is a critical step that strengthens a company's human rights due diligence. This company has not reponded to a letter by the coalition.
[Source 2017][More on Sustainability Reporting]

This company has Corporate Responsibility claims on its website.
[Source 2011][More on Environmental Claims]

This company has formally undertaken not to use or sell real fur.
[Source 2014][More on Animal Rights]

This company has taken angora items off the shelves and promised not to use angora again, following a PETA campaign launched in Dec 2013 which revealed the cruelty inflicted on angora rabbits in Chinese factory farms, where 90% of the world's angora is produced.
[Source 2018][More on Animal Rights]

This company is a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, a voluntary initiative which encourages the adoption of better management practices in cotton cultivation to achieve measurable reductions in key environmental impacts, while improving social and economic benefits for cotton farmers, small and large, worldwide.
[Source 2019][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

This company is a participant in the Action, Collaboration, Transformation (ACT) initiative, an initiative between international brands and retailers, manufacturers, and trade unions to address the issue of living wages in the textile and garment supply chain.
[Source 2018][More on Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives]

Kmart's disclosure in Dec 2013 of the locations of its supplier factories in Bangladesh is an Australian first and a crucial step on a journey towards better conditions for workers, Oxfam Australia said.
[Source 2013][More on Governance]

Wesfarmers owns one coal mine plus a 40% interest in a second coal mine. Wesfarmers sold it's Premier Coal open-cut mine to Chinese miner Yanzhou Coal Mining in 2011.
[Source 2011][More on Climate Change]

This 2013 report by The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) investigates the labour and human rights risks in supply chain sourcing. This company is identified on page 21 as a company which sources products from countries with known systemic labour and human rights concerns.
[Source 2013][More on Human Rights]

Involved in sale of tobacco-related products as a non-core business.
[More on Product Safety]

According to the democracy4sale.org website, this company donated $97,500 to Australia's major political parties between 2009 and 2013, as disclosed to the Australian Electoral Commision (AEC).
[Source 2013][More on Politics]

As listed on the We Mean Business website, this company has committed to the following climate action initiatives: put a price on carbon; responsible corporate engagement in climate policy; report climate change information in mainstream reports as a fiduciary duty.
[Source 2017][More on Climate Change]

Wesfarmers is mentioned in the 'Workplace human rights Reporting: a study of Australian garment and retail companies' paper as having policies on 'Fair wage and decent living' - stating that they were paying their employees in accordance with local and national wage awards and statutes. Information gathered was from annual reports, CSR reports, and the corporate website, for the 2009/2010 year. Policy in there areas are particularly important in the clothing and electronics industries (though policy does not imply compliance).
[Source 2012][More on Human Rights]

In the section 'Looking after our environment' in its 2012 Sustainability Report on its website, the company reports on performance with greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, water use, waste and packaging. Scorecards for divisions (e.g. Coles, Bunnings, Target, Kmart) are provided.
[Source 2012][More on Sustainability Reporting]

California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
[Source 2017][More on Human Rights]

In 2018 KnowTheChain benchmarked 120 large global companies in the ICT, Food & Beverage, and Apparel & Footwear sectors on their efforts to address forced labour and human trafficking in their supply chains. This company received a score of 43/100.
[Source 2018][More on Workers Rights]

Directly involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of alcohol as a core business. (Does not include sale of alcoholic beverages as a non-core business).
[More on Product Safety]