A “COVID-19 tracker” designed by labor advocates to hold retailers accountable for reneging on payments to garment suppliers in countries such as Cambodia and Bangladesh has placed H&M brand on probation.
Though H&M was one of the first companies to pump the apparel-production brakes in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it also leapt to commit to paying for all finished and in-production orders under previously agreed-upon terms.
But the Swedish retailer now carries an asterisk next to its name—an indication that at least one supplier has raised concerns about H&M’s follow-through on its word. Scott Nova, executive director of the WRC, says the nonprofit is currently investigating the claim before it makes a decision about a possible change in designation. For now, H&M stands slightly apart from payment-committed firms such as Adidas, Asos, Zara owner Inditex, Marks & Spencer and Target.












