Coles names Asian clothing suppliers

Coles has joined the growing list of retailers who publish details of the Asian factories that make its garments.

A Coles supermarket

Coles has published a list of factories behind its clothing range in a bid to be more transparent. (AAP)

Coles has published a list of Asian factories behind its clothing range as part of the supermarket giant's bid to be more transparent.

The names and addresses of the Indian, Cambodian and Vietnamese factories which make Coles' Mix apparel are now up for the public to view on Coles' website.

This follows similar moves by Kmart, Target and other retailers after a Bangladesh garment factory collapsed in April 2013, killing more than 1,100 people.

The tragedy followed the deaths of more than 100 workers in a blaze at another Bangladesh clothing factory in November 2012.

Oxfam Australia's corporate accountability adviser Daisy Gardner says it's important for retailers to disclose their suppliers for public scrutiny and help human rights groups lift factory workers' standards.

"Many Australians have been reflecting on where garments are made," she said.

"This extra level of transparency will show consumers that Coles is taking the issue seriously and are on the right path towards ethical purchasing.

"It also makes it easier for independent groups like unions and NGOs (non government organisations) to know which sites to visit to speak to workers about their wages and conditions."

She said only about a dozen companies worldwide published details of their garment makers, including Nike, adidas and H&M.

Many garment workers slave for long hours for minimum pay in unsafe factories across Asia.

Coles says it's also involved in a joint program with the International Labour Organisation and the International Finance Corporation to improve its suppliers' compliance with labour standards.

The company is taking part in a program to serve a daily meal to workers in one of its partner garment factories in Cambodia.


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