Primark cuts ties with Indian suppliers for using child labour

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Primark has axed three suppliers in India for passing work to unapproved sub-contractors using child labour.

Children working at home were sewing on sequins and embroidery to dresses and other items sold in the fashion chain's 170 stores.

The revelation is highly embarrassing for a company that has always claimed it is possible to sell T-shirts for as little as £2 without compromising its ethics.

Primark said it was alerted to the use of child labour in southern India by a BBC Panorama investigation for a programme to be screened next Monday.

It is tightening control of suppliers and will appoint a partner to act as its 'eyes and ears' in the region.

Primark is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods, whose chief executive George Weston claimed the company had been deceived by its suppliers which had been audited three times in the past 18 months to ensure they adhere to an ethical trading code.

He denied that low prices paid to suppliers would inevitably lead to the exploitation of workers, saying the firm's success is built on a pile it high, sell it cheap philosophy.