Company profile: Prémaman
Headquarters: Bruxelles
Country: Belgium
Founded in: 1953
Total points of sale in Europe: 247
Owned by: n.a.
Name of CEO: Denis Escojido
Product description: The majority of products are designed by Prémaman or its subcontractors. Prémaman proposes clothes, accessories and nursery items for the mother-to-be, baby and child up to 10 years old.
Producer countries: n.a.
General remarks: Sales are through owned shops (about 75 ) and franchise shops (211).
Prémaman
Caroline Jadot
Chaussée de Haecht, 1475 1130 Bruxelles
info(at)premaman.be
Comments from CCC and proposals for action
Despite interest and goodwill on the part of Prémaman, no answer was received to the questionnaire sent by the CCC. The reason given for not answering is that the CCC’s deadline was too short. In March 2008, Prémaman sent a letter to the CCC giving information about its commitments with regard to fair trade cotton and to the requirements made of its Indian suppliers. In November 2008, following a question in the company workers committee concerning its formal commitment through the signature of a code of conduct, its implementation and its verification, Prémaman send to the CCC a copy of a recent order form addressed to a Chinese supplier that includes a contractual provision concerning the refusal by Prémaman of delivery of merchandise produced by minors of age.
For the CCC, the company should commit to a more comprehensive and coherent approach concerning the respect of the workers rights in its supplying network and could improve transparency in this matter, notably in becoming a member of a credible multistakeholder initiative such as the Fair Wear Foundation.
Due to the company’s lack of response to the CCC questionnaire, the following evaluation of its corporate accountability policy is based on a desk study conducted by the CCC in 2007 and was amended using information provided by the company. In the section “Recent developments” you can find additional information gathered after 2007.
Transparency
Prémaman has not responded to CCC’s request for information on its corporate accountability policy. The company is transparent with regard to: turnover, profits, sales and corporate structure. The salaries of top management are not known. The information available about producer countries and the structure of the supply chain is not comprehensive. There is no comprehensive sustainability report available. Prémaman provides neither the results of factory audits nor information about verification activities. The company does not disclose general targets for future monitoring activities.
Formal commitment to labour standards
Prémaman communicates its commitments to respecting minimum social and labour standards in workplaces where its products are made.
The company has not adopted a code of conduct.
Code implementation and purchasing practices
Prémaman did not indicate the steps it is taking to effectively implement minimum labour standards in its supply chain. There is no evidence that the company holds training on labour rights issues. There is no evidence that Prémaman intends to implement the payment of living wages to workers in its supply chain. Prémaman has not shown that it is aware of the fact that part of its production sites are located in countries or zones where freedom of association is not guaranteed by law. The CCC is not aware of any provisions to give buyers positive incentives to reward better working conditions or of any measures that show how to improve planning and prevent excessive overtime.
Monitoring and Verification
Very little is known by the CCC about the company’s monitoring activities and nothing about their outcomes. The company is not a member of any multi-stakeholder initiative.
Violations of labour rights and public conflicts
There are no CCC public urgent appeals calling on Prémaman to take responsibility for workers’ rights violations in its supply chain.
Recent developments
In March 2008, Prémaman wrote to the CCC with information about its commitments to fair trade cotton and to the internal steps it has taken to verify compliance with the requirements made of its Indian suppliers. The letter refers to the company’s website and catalogue and the commitment they indicate in relation to child labour and the use of fair trade cotton. It does not refer to any external and independent label or certification system. To our knowledge, the company has not adopted a code of conduct.