Why Tesco?

We’re asking Tesco to live up to its ethical claims in developing countries.

Through ActionAid’s work in South Africa, we found women working on farms that supply Tesco suffering unacceptably poor conditions; enduring poverty pay, dangerous conditions and job insecurity.

The squeeze that UK supermarkets put onto their suppliers with practices like lowering prices, short lead times and late payments is passed on to the workers.

Our findings were echoed in April 2008 as all UK supermarkets were found guilty of abusing their suppliers after a Competition Commission investigation. The Commission recommended that a watchdog is needed to make them play fair. The supermarkets are negotiating with them about setting it up right now.

Tesco are by far the biggest supermarket, accounting for a third of all grocery sales in the UK. If it comes out in support of the watchdog, then other supermarkets will be more likely to follow Tesco’s lead.

So far Tesco has not rejected the proposal outright, saying it remains to be convinced - so we need to put the pressure on and convince them!

By sending them your 5p, consumers will be showing Tesco how little it takes to make a real difference to workers, and how much people want them to do it.

Sign up now, using the form on the right.