We welcome this report and are genuinely concerned about the challenges within the Indian textile industry that it draws attention to. We share the concerns raised in the report and we are sorry if our answers to the organizations behind the report were perceived as too general or brief. We are very committed to our continuous work both around the labour conditions in textile factories and living conditions at hostels, but at the same time aware of and frustrated over that the work to identify, push and understand how we and other brands can and should influence to make lasting change is not moving fast enough. 

The report clearly shows there is a need for improved recruitment processes and a clearer communication making all inter-state migrant workers understand their rights and responsibilities... This is the reason why we last year reached out to suppliers in India to reinforce our expectation that the “Guidance for Migrant Women Workers in Hostels” is followed, developed by the brands group in India (BEWG) together with trade unions, NGO’s and manufacturers. The guide aims at providing safe and healthy accommodation to migrant workers. H&M inspects all hostels provided by our suppliers to make sure they meet expected standards. We inspect the premises and conduct interviews with the workers living there. We also check the buildings from a general building maintenance perspective, the cleanliness of the premises as well as what kind of safety restrictions the workers have to comply with...