Unpaid Workers Have Been Leaving Messages in Zara Clothing in Istanbul

Update, 2:40 P.M.: A spokesperson for Inditex, which owns Zara, released the following statement to ELLE.com: “Inditex has met all of its contractual obligations to Bravo Textil and is currently working on a proposal with the local IndustriALL affiliate, Mango and Next to establish a hardship fund for the workers affected by the fraudulent disappearance of the Bravo factory’s owner. This hardship fund would cover unpaid wages, notice indemnity, unused vacation and severance payments of workers that were employed at the time of the sudden shutdown of their factory in July 2016. We are committed to finding a swift solution for all of those impacted.”

Original Post, 11:40 A.M.: Shoppers at the fashion retailer Zara in Istanbul have found unusual tags on their garments — complaints by Turkish workers who say they have not been paid for the merchandise in the store.

Workers from an outsourced manufacturer for Zara and other retailers have been going into Zara shops and leaving the tags inside clothes.

The tag reads “I made this item you are going to buy, but I didn’t get paid for it.” It urges shoppers to back their campaign and pressure Zara into paying them.

The tags say the workers were employed by Bravo, which closed down overnight. Workers say the manufacturer owes them three months of pay as well as severance allowance.

Inditex, which owns Zara, did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press.