The international charity Oxfam has criticised major UK supermarkets over the alleged abuse of workers at foreign farms and plantations from which the retailers source tea and fresh fruit.
A newly released Oxfam report said workers suffer from poor pay and harsh working conditions, such as a 13-hour shifts and prevalent waterborne diseases. The report also found that, of the 79p paid by British shoppers for a 100g pack of Assam tea, supermarkets and tea brands received 49p while workers receive 3p. The chains singled out in the report include Lidl, Aldi, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons.
The charity based its findings on interviews with workers in India and Brazil coupled with a worker survey conducted in five different countries. Oxfam blamed a “relentless” drive for profit by retailers for the alleged abuses.
