New York City Heightens Scrutiny of Victoria's Secret Amid Labor Concerns

A compliance alert from New York City targeting Victoria’s Secret has emerged as a focal point in a growing movement addressing the tragic death of a garment worker at a Sri Lankan factory linked to the brand. The New York City Commission on Human Rights dispatches awareness of systemic issues in the fashion industry, citing a broader history of discrimination and harassment.

In an August 20 notice addressed to general counsel Melinda McAfee, the Commission referenced Victoria’s Secret's upcoming “Angels Among Us” fashion show in Los Angeles while emphasizing the protections afforded to job applicants under local anti-discrimination laws. Notably, violations can incur penalties up to $250,000, sending a clear message about the company’s obligations to its workforce.

Katherine Carroll, deputy commissioner of the Commission’s Office of Civil Rights Enforcement, highlighted that all hiring practices within New York City must protect individuals against discrimination based on their perceived immigration status, along with prohibiting gender-based discrimination, including sexual harassment.

Broader Implications for Supply Chains

Even though the specific notice pertains to recruitment within New York, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su's remarks underscore the broader implications for Victoria's Secret's entire supply chain. Su’s statements connected the city’s commitment to safeguarding workers from gender-based violence and harassment to the recent death of garment worker Paramasivam Pushpalatha. Advocates assert that Pushpalatha’s tragic death was compounded by threats against her colleagues, bringing renewed scrutiny to the working conditions within the supply chain.

The events surrounding Pushpalatha's passing have ignited widespread protests led by various labor organizations, including the Commercial and Industrial Workers Union and the Asia Floor Wage Alliance. These groups are demanding accountability from both Victoria’s Secret and its supplier, Brandix, urging the companies to take responsibility by providing financial support for Pushpalatha’s family, initiating an independent investigation into labor practices, and establishing accountability measures to protect workers from harassment.

Union leaders have actively protested at Victoria's Secret's flagship store in Manhattan, bearing banners with messages like “No More Secrets” and “Women Are Watching.” These demonstrations convey a sense of urgency and solidarity, serving as a public outcry against the exploitative conditions that many workers face in the fashion industry.

Swasthika Arulingam, president of CIWU, emphasized the militant stance workers and unions must adopt in seeking justice for Pushpalatha’s family: “When we heard ‘Justice for Pushpa’ from the streets of New York, we realized that, just as suppliers and brands build their empires of exploitation globally, we as workers and unions are also building our solidarity globally to stand up, resist, and fight.”

Victoria’s Secret Response

A spokesperson for Victoria’s Secret asserted that the brand takes its human rights duties seriously. The company claimed to have engaged with Brandix to comprehend the contextual factors surrounding Pushpalatha's death, while maintaining compliance with existing laws. An internal review reportedly found no evidence of wrongdoing by Brandix, raising questions among advocates about transparency and accountability.

Su has been an outspoken advocate for garment workers' rights, harkening back to her previous legal work that revealed harsh truths about labor conditions in the industry. Recently, she emphasized at a labor event the importance of honoring those voices, urging participants to say Paramasivam's name out loud.

Highlighting NYC’s legacy of championing labor rights, Su remarked, “We hope the letter from the NYC Commission on Human Rights is clear: Victoria’s Secret is welcome in the fashion capital, but it must fulfill its obligations to workers.”

Future Actions and Implications

While New York City's authority covers hiring and recruitment practices within the city, it doesn’t extend to the operations of an L.A. fashion show or the conditions in overseas factories. Still, advocates argue that this compliance notice signifies a pivotal opportunity to apply pressure on Victoria’s Secret given its deep roots in New York.

Prarthana Gurung, a senior organizer at Global Labor Justice, pointed out that New York serves as a strategic hub for Victoria’s Secret, with its flagship store and corporate offices housing key decision-makers. She noted, “That’s why it’s so powerful to see city government taking notice of problems in Victoria’s Secret's supply chain.” Gurung indicated that the campaign would move to Los Angeles next, aiming to resonate with another city historically known for supporting garment workers. “We hope L.A. will also send Victoria’s Secret a message about how it needs to change the way it treats women workers and unions in its supply chain,” she concluded.